WP,pg1, 5/29/05: Hastert and Scott Palmer, with photo

[DeepModem Mom]

Hastert Directs Millions to Birthplace
Earmarked Money Skirts Procedures
By Dan Morgan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 29, 2005; Page A01


Nine months after Scott B. Palmer, left, chief of staff to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, got an honorary degree from Aurora University, $9.8 million was earmarked for the school in an appropriations bill. Both men are shown in a 1999 photo.
(Steve Lundy -- Aurora Beacon-news Photo)


When Scott B. Palmer received an honorary degree in 2002 from his alma mater, Aurora University in Illinois, he urged the graduating class to "give back to our university, to our community and to our country."

As chief of staff to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Palmer runs a congressional office that has been able to do just that for Aurora, the birthplace of his boss and the largest city in his boss's home district....

***

Nine months after the cap-and-gown ceremony honoring Palmer, Aurora University got $9.8 million to construct a teacher training institute. Aurora's Rush-Copley Medical Center, where Palmer is an unpaid trustee, captured a total of $5.5 million in 2002 and 2003....Palmer, Hastert's chief of staff, is by all accounts the speaker's closest adviser. He has served in his post since 1987, except for a stint from 1995 to 1999 as deputy chief of staff to then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.). He shares a Southwest Washington townhouse with Hastert. In addition to receiving a House salary of $144,000, two campaign funds associated with Hastert paid Palmer $23,204 in consulting fees in 2003, according to his financial disclosure report.

At Aurora University, Palmer won praise as an undergraduate actor and history scholar. He graduated in 1972 but stayed on to get a business degree and serve as registrar and director of public information. Palmer left in 1984 to become marketing director of a bank and a part-time political consultant....

***

Palmer was directly involved in shepherding the $10 million earmark through Congress and into the 2003 omnibus spending bill, according to one source with firsthand knowledge of the process. Palmer personally presented the request to the House Appropriations Committee staff, saying it was an item the speaker wanted, the source said. Palmer and Hastert traveled to Aurora for the announcement in February 2003. Palmer received a university medallion and was given the honorary title of "president for the day," according to the alumni publication....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/28/AR2005052801183.html

[wakeme2008]

1. Somehow I can not picture sex between those two...

So I can assume their living together is just to save $$$$ :rofl:

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Hastert seems to have put on a lot of weight since 1999??? nt

[Tellurian]

3. Lots of Ice Cream...

will do it..tons of comfort food!

[marylanddem]

4. Is someone suggesting these two have an - ahem - relationship?

[Disturbed]

5. No big deal that they live together except

Hassert saying Palmer told him nothing about Foley's activities with Pages.

Anyone that believes that wants to believe it.

[marylanddem]

6. Thanks - not that there's anything wrong with it, except

the thought of Hastert on top of or under anybody of any sex is pretty weird - to me he looks
like the very picture of a fat corrupt pol...