Lobbyist's Work for Mariana Islands Raised Questions Years Before Tribal P

[Judi Lynn]

US ; Lobbyist's Work for Mariana Islands Raised Questions Years Before Tribal Probe:
12 minutes Ago

WASHINGTON - Auditors questioned whether a tiny U.S. territory in the Pacific got its money's worth when it paid millions of dollars to the firm of a lobbyist now under investigation for his work for Indian tribes. Jack Abramoff, who has ties to President Bush and No. 2 House Republican Tom DeLay, was the lead lobbyist for Seattle-based firm Preston Gates & Ellis when it worked on behalf of the Northern Mariana Islands to keep them free from certain U.S. labor and immigration laws during the last half of the 1990s, according to reviews conducted by the islands' public auditors.

The auditors questioned why the firm charged the islands for a golf tournament; quoted officials as saying they could save lobbying money by flying fewer members of Congress to their Pacific location; and said some payments to Abramoff's firm were made illegally, according to the documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
(snip)

Abramoff, a major fund-raiser for President Bush, now is under investigation by a federal grand jury for deals under which he and an associate received at least $66 million from six Indian tribes to lobby for their casinos and other issues. The tribes question whether some charges were excessive.

Democrats in Congress also are exploring Abramoff's ties to DeLay, the House majority leader, citing foreign trips DeLay took that were arranged by the lobbyist and questioning whether DeLay made legislative decisions based on the relationship. DeLay, R-Texas, denies wrongdoing.
(snip/...)

http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=167395

[Hekate]

1. We got checks and bribes...

...instead of checks and balances.

Auwe!

Hekate

[LizW]

2. My husband bought some shirts

His mom worked in a sewing factory for years until it closed down and he hates to buy clothing made in overseas sweat shops.

He was so proud 'cause these shirts said "Made in USA" or something like that. We didn't know about the Mariana Islands sweat shops at the time. He said, "What are the Mariana Islands?" We looked it up and his jaw just dropped. He said, "Great. My new shirts were made by slaves!"

:(

[Career Prole]

3. AP on Yahoonews headline..."Lobbyist With Ties to Bush Investigated"

Now that's how to frame it!
Lobbyist With Ties to Bush Investigated
I just hope they leave it that way for more than a minute or two.
:bounce:

[Judi Lynn]

4. Ties to Bush and Delay.Makes you wonder what the headline writer

was thinking in the first attempt. Jeez.

Of course, it's somewhat clearer! Can't have that.