Federal timing of funeral
picketing bill is election year politics
The following is a press release from Garth
McGinn, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, 4th District
Wichita,
KS: The first known case of AIDS happened twenty-five years ago.
Shortly thereafter the Westboro Baptist church began picketing
the funerals of AIDS victims, the funerals of other young people
that died of natural causes, and finally soldiers who have paid
the ultimate sacrifice to their country declaring that it was
God’s wrath for America tolerating homosexuality.
Yesterday Republican Congresman Todd Tiahrt (4th District) announced
that he will introduce a bill “next year” aimed at
preventing legal challenges to the funeral picketing legislation
passed earlier this “election year.” While I agree
something should have been done about the funeral picketing problem
itself and long ago, Mr. Tiahrt should apologize to the families
who have had to endure Phelps’s behavior for using this
issue for political gain in an election year! Yes, it’s
election year politics at its worst because Mr. Tiahrt would no
doubt rather talk about Fred Phelps leading up to this election
than he would the enormous debt, our dependency on foreign oil,
healthcare costs, Medicare D, and the absence of Congressional
oversight to Executive Branch blunders on multiple fronts.
The people of Kansas should be outraged that Mr. Tiahrt would
once again use funeral picketing for his own political gain! Just
like the immigration problem, another issues he suddenly cares
about in an election year, this issue could have been resolved
two…five…ten years ago, but apparently the funerals
Fred was protesting then didn’t matter just like our porous
borders then didn’t matter. Taking the eye off the ball
of what’s truly wrong in this country combined with election
year nonsense like this is just another example of how Mr. Tiahrt’s
“doing the right thing” is wrong for Kansas, wrong
for America.
For more information on Garth McGinn, visit: www.gogarth.org
[1]
Phill Kline's
Leaked Memo Raises Questions
By Ksullivan
Created 09/12/2006 - 4:39pm
Hello
Kansas Democrats! My name is Kate and I am an intern with the
Kansas Democratic Party. I was reading an article today in the
Lawrence Journal World and I thought it would be an excellent
addition to our new website and blog area.
Entitled "Leaked Memo Details Strategy" the Lawrence
Journal World article details the aggressive campaign strategy
of Attorney General Phill Kline in his fight against Paul Morrison
to retain his position. Often citing himself as a religious man,
the leaked memo details his strategy to use churches across Kansas
as a way to raise money and support for his reelection campaign.
"The goal is to walk away with contact information, money
and volunteers and a committee in each church," said the
memo, written by Kline to campaign workers Bill Roche and Sylvia
Chapman.
With Kline pulpit-crashing around the state, it begs the question
of whether his aggressive strategy is just that - merely a means
to win an election. "There isn't anything wrong with a candidate
turning to his supporters," Kline spokeswoman Sherriene Jones
said of the leaked memo. Far from reaching out to supporters,
Kline is riding the church to drive his disingenuous reelection
campaign across Kansas.
Democrats have long worked for issues that are supported by
the faith based community. The moral visions of strong schools,
affordable health care, and an economy that supports families
has long been cornerstones of the Democratic effort. As Kansas
Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates recently describes in his
article A Politics of the Common Good, these issues touch back
to the religious community by "working for something greater
then ourselves."
The need for Democratic support and aggressive response to this
issue cannot be stressed enough. Clearly, Democrats have their
work cut out for them. With Kline racing around the state in an
effort to speak at churches, Democrats need to increase their
visibility and unity ahead of the November 7th elections.
The Do-Nothing
Congress Daily Register: GOP Ignores Rising Number of Uninsured
The Republican-led Congress is set to go home in five business
days, leaving a number of important legislative priorities undone
and a host of issues unresolved. After 12 years of Republican
Congressional rule, the GOP puts politics ahead of what's good
for America and are ineffective at dealing with the problems that
American families face. It is no wonder that Americans are fed
up with Republican leadership in Congress and now favor Democratic
control. The latest CBS News/New York Times poll found that two-thirds
of Americans "said Congress had accomplished less than it
typically does in a two-year session; most said they could not
name a single major piece of legislation that cleared this Congress.
Just 25 percent said they approved of the way Congress was doing
its job." [New York Times, 9/21/06]
The Democratic National Committee will highlight these legislative
failures every day until Congress recesses.
Over the last five years, with Republican control of the White
House and Congress, the numbers of the uninsured have swelled.
With only a few days remaining in this legislative session, the
nearly 46 million uninsured Americans are still waiting for help
from the Republican-controlled Congress.
Nearly 47 Million Americans Are Uninsured -
Increasing for the Fifth Year in a Row. The number of Americans
lacking health insurance increased by 1.3 million last year --
and by 6.8 million since Bush took office in 2001. Today, a total
of 46.6 million people are uninsured -- roughly one in seven Americans.
[U.S. Census Bureau, 8/29/06; Table HI-4]
• The Number of Uninsured Is Equal to the Combined
Populations of 24 States and the District of Columbia.
In order to provide some perspective on the sheer magnitude
of the problem of the uninsured, the number of Americans who
are denied health insurance is equal to the combined populations
of 24 states and the District of Columbia. The states include:
Oregon, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas,
Kansas, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, West Virginia, Nebraska, Idaho,
Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Montana, Delaware,
South Dakota, Alaska, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. [Census
Bureau Population Estimates, Table GCT-T1-R]
The Number of Uninsured Children Increased By 361,000
Over the Past Year; Rate of Uninsured Children
Rose for First Time in Five Years. The number of children
without health insurance increased to 8.3 million this year -
a 361,000 increase over the past year. Over 21.9 percent of Hispanic
children and 12.5 percent of African American children lack health
insurance. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/29/06]
The Do-Nothing Congress Daily Register:
The Republican-led Congress is set to go home in six days, leaving
a number of important legislative priorities undone and a host
of issues unresolved. After twelve years of Republican Congressional
rule, the GOP puts politics ahead of what's good for America and
are ineffective at dealing with the problems that American families
face. It is no wonder that Americans are fed up with Republican
leadership in Congress and now favor Democratic control. The latest
CBS News/New York Times poll found that two-thirds of Americans
"said Congress had accomplished less than it typically does
in a two-year session; and most said they could not name a single
major piece of legislation that cleared this Congress. Just 25
percent said they approved of the way Congress was doing its job."
[New York Times, 9/21/06]
The Democratic National Committee will highlight these legislative
failures every day until Congress recesses.
The GOP's prescription drug plan was written by
the pharmaceutical industry and banned the government from negotiating
drug prices for seniors. The legislation also created a "donut
hole", which takes effect this week, whereby seniors facing
certain drug costs would lose coverage altogether. The issue first
gained attention two years ago, but the Republican "do-nothing"
Congress has refused to remedy this serious problem.
GOP Has Ignored Donut Hole
Donut Hole Will Leave 7 Million Americans Without Coverage.
"A report released by the Campaign for America's
Future last July revealed that nearly 7 million beneficiaries
with annual drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100 will fall into
the 'donut hole' this week," which means that they will be
forced to pay the entire cost of their drug coverage between when
it falls between those two amounts. CBS News reports that, "it's
this gap -- of almost $3,000 -- that many sick and disabled seniors
call unaffordable." "'We feel there is something very
wrong with the way Medicare Part D is written,' says David Madison,
who's taking one very expensive cancer drug. He says he reached
the 'doughnut hole' in a month. The total cost of his care, he
told us, plus the coverage gap is wiping him out. 'It could eventually
lead to bankruptcy,' he says. 'It is catastrophic.'" [Campaign
For America's Future, 9/20/06; CBS News, 7/26/06]
New Democratic Report: 88 Percent Of Americans In Medicare
Drug Plan Will Face Donut Hole; Average Cost To Switch Plans Nearly
$500. "Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee
were issuing a report Thursday estimating that 88 percent of the
Medicare beneficiaries with stand-alone coverage opted for plans
with a coverage gap. ... The analysis includes a breakdown by
state showing how much more money residents would have to pay
annually if they switched to a plan that had no doughnut hole.
The nationwide average was $458. ... 'As this report shows, the
opportunity to purchase plans that fill the hole is a mirage,'
said Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif. 'Beneficiaries are no more able
to afford expensive, full-coverage plans than minimum wage Americans
are able to afford a Mercedes.'" [AP, 9/21/06]
Jack Abramoff,
His Cronies, and the Welcome Mat at the Bush White House
On January 30, 2006, the DNC filed a Freedom of Information
request seeking Secret Service records detailing entry and exit
from the White House Complex between January 20, 2001 and May
12, 2005 for Jack Abramoff, Grover Norquist, Patrick Pizzella,
Ralph Reed, Michael Scanlon, and David Safavian. Although the
Secret Service has agreed to provide the entry and exit records
of Abramoff in response to a lawsuit from an outside group, they
have failed to provide records of White House visits by Norquist,
Pizzella, Scanlon, Reed and Safavian. On May 8th the DNC filed
a lawsuit in an effort to gain access to the Secret Service Workers
and Visitors Entrance System (WAVES) records for the other individuals
named in the FOIA request.
GROVER NORQUIST
Ever since Norquist helped Abramoff win his campaign for Chairman
of the College Republicans in the early 1980s, the two have maintained
a relationship that outsiders call "symbiotic" Norquist
provided Abramoff with key conservative credentials to boost his
lobbying career and allowed Americans for Tax Reform to serve
as a "front organization" for Abramoff clients. In return,
Abramoff steered about $1.5 million in donations from the Choctaws
and other clients to Americans for Tax Reform. With all that money
changing hands, it's clear why Norquist and Abramoff have had
a long and successful relationship.
Norquist and Abramoff: A "Long and Successful"
Relationship. Abramoff and Norquist have maintained a
"long and successful political partnership"since the
early 1980s, when Norquist managed Abramoff's successful campaign
to be chairman of the College Republicans. The pair's friendship
and political ties continued through the "80s as they worked
on conservative causes. It blossomed in the decade after the GOP
captured Congress in 1994 and Abramoff began his meteoric rise
as a GOP lobbyist and fundraiser." One former lobbyist described
it as "symbiotic." [National Journal, 10/1/05]
MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAWS
Abramoff Lobbied for Choctaws; Norquist Funneled $1.15
Million from the Choctaws to Anti-Gambling Groups, Taking $300,000
For Himself. Abramoff lobbied for the Mississippi Band
of Choctaws on "tax and tribal issues" Since 1995, the
tribe has paid Abramoff at least $7 million. Norquist admitted
to receiving over $1.15 million from the Mississippi tribes which
he later funneled to two groups who were running anti gambling
campaigns in neighboring Alabama. From the mid-90s through 2002,
according to sources, the Choctaws poured about $1.5 million into
ATR coffers, roughly three-quarters of which was used to help
defeat an Alabama lottery referendum and a video-poker proposal
that was pending in the state Legislature. [Wall Street Journal,
7/3/01 Boston Globe, 5/13/05; Email from Jack Abramoff to Ralph
Reed, 2/7/00; National Journal, 10/1/05]
MARIANAS ISLANDS
Marianas Islands Was Key Abramoff Client; Norquist Embraced
the Cause. Abramoff’s was hired by textile manufacturers
in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - a U.S. protectorate
- to preserve the island's exemption from minimum-wage laws, and
Abramoff and his lobbying team had almost 200 contacts with Bush
Administration officials. According to sources familiar with ATR
finances, the group sent Marianas officials a bill for $10,000
at least once in the mid-1990s for attendance at Norquist's tax
policy dinners. "The Marianas became a great cause celebre
at the Wednesday meetings shortly after the Republicans took power,"
recalled Marshall Wittman, a onetime Christian Coalition lobbyist
who now works for the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.
[National Journal, 10/1/05; Washington Post, 8/12/05; AP, 5/6/05]
E-LOTTERY
Abramoff Had eLottery As Client and Funneled Money Through
Norquist's Group To Fund Attacks on Conservatives; Norquist Kept
a Cut."In the eLottery fight, [Abramoff] employed
a win-at-any-cost strategy that went so far as to launch direct-mail
attacks on vulnerable House conservative... In May, eLottery hired
Abramoff's firm, Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, for $100,000 a
month, according to lobbying reports. In the following months,
Abramoff directed the company to pay hundreds of thousands of
dollars to various organization...The groups included Norquist's
Americans for Tax Reform. The eLottery money went first to Norquist's
foundation, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), and then through a
second group in Virginia Beach called the Faith and Family Alliance,
before it reached Reed's company, Century Strategies." Norquist's
group retained $10,000 from the money as it passed through. [Washington
Post, 10/16/05]
COUNCIL OF REPUBLICANS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
Abramoff Funneled Cash to Group Norquist Founded in
Order to Block a Casino Proposed by Rivals of His Clients. CREA
was founded in the 1990s by conservative anti-tax activist Grover
Norquist and Gale Norton, who became Secretary of the Interior.
Norquist also sublet or gave space to the new organization for
about a year at ATR's former offices on 18th Street NW, in Washington.
In the effort to block the establishment of an Indian casino that
would compete with one of his clients (the Michigan Saginaw Chippewa
Indian Tribe), Abramoff relied on Italia Federici, the president
of Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy. He asked
her to intercede with her friend Deputy Secretary of the Interior
J. Steven Griles. Abramoff directed tribes he represented to donate
$225,000 to CREA from 2001 to 2003. [National Journal, 10/1/05;
Washington Post, 8/28/05]
PATRICK PIZZELLA
Before becoming Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Bush
Administration, Pizzella was handpicked by Jack Abramoff to lobby
for weakened labor standards for the Marianas Islands, together
with Abramoff's bagman-to-be David Safavian. And after Bush was
first elected President, Pizella was a member of the transition
team for the Government Services Administration -- where his good
friend Safavian took over as Chief of Staff.
MARIANAS ISLANDS
Abramoff Handpicked Pizzella To Join His Lobbying Effort
For Marianas. In 1996, Patrick Pizzella started lobbying
for the Common Wealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), a client
he shared with Jack Abramoff. Pizzella used his contacts in the
conservative movement to lobby for the pacific island, going as
far as attending Grover Norquist's weekly meeting of conservatives
to "hawk his goods" Pizzella also used his conservative
connections to arrange meetings between CNMI officials and conservative
activists, and sent them on, all expenses paid junkets to the
Marinas Islands. According to the New Republic, "Abramoff
plucked conservative lobbyists from key congressional offices
[for his lobbying team] -- two came directly from Tom DeLay's
staff. He also picked Patrick Pizzella." While working for
Abramoff, Pizzella also put together a think-tank trip to the
Marianas for conservative activists and members of Congress. [New
Republic, 6/18/01; www.govbenefits.gov, Washington Technology,
3/7/05, AP, 5/3/05]
NAFTASIB / CHELSEA COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES
Pizzella and Abramoff Registered to Lobby For Chelsea
Commercial Enterprise Limited, Front Group For Russian Energy
Company Naftasib. According to Senate lobbyist filings,
Abramoff was registered to lobby on behalf of Chelsea Commercial
Enterprises in 1997, an effort that was described as being intimately
liked to a diversified Russian energy firm known as Naftasib.
In 1998, U.S. Family Network, a public advocacy group with close
ties to Abramoff and DeLay, received a $1 million donation from
an undisclosed source. DeLay's former chief of staff, Ed Buckham,
subsequently revealed that the donation was from Naftasib executives,
and was specifically intended to influence DeLay's vote on legislation
to protect the interests of these companies. In that same year,
DeLay voted against a Clinton Administration proposal that was
strongly opposed by Naftasib and other Russian oil companies,
voting for the proposal only when the companie's concerns had
been addressed. [www.sopr.senate.gov; Secretary of the Senate,
2/13/98; Washington Post, 4/6/05]
E-LOTTERY
Pizzella and Abramoff Lobbied for E-Lottery; Pizzella
Monitored Congress During Gambling Bill Vote, E-mailed Abramoff
Updates. Pizzella and Abramoff were registered to lobby
for E-Lottery. During a vote on a bill that E-Lottery opposed,
Pizzella served as Abramoff's eyes and ears in the Capitol, emailing
him updates about the actions of Louis Sheldon, a conservative
leader who Abramoff had paid to oppose the bill. When the bill
was killed on a procedural vote, Pizzella wrote to Abramoff, "There
was lucky Louie out front hi fiving with some lobbyists."
[www.senate.gov; Washington Post, 10/16/05]
ABRAMOFF'S TRIBAL CLIENTS
Abramoff and Pizzella Hired To Lobby for Mississippi
Choctaws and Saginaw Chippewas. The Mississippi Band
of Choctaw Indians and the Michigan Saginaw Chippewa Indians retained
Abramoff and Pizzella as lobbyists. [www.sopr.senate.gov]
RALPH
REED
When Abramoff had to make sure his client's concerns got
the attention of the right people in the Bush White House, he
often turned to Ralph Reed, whose ties there -- especially with
Karl Rove -- were far better than his. Reed was an obliging, even
eager middleman, judging by e-mail exchanges between the two.
MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS
Reed Weighed In With Rove On Funding For Choctaw Project.
"Abramoff wrote Reed that he needed some "serious
swat from Karl" to get the Justice Department to free up
$16.3 million for a jail that his Choctaw Indian clients were
planning to build in Mississippi. As it happened, Abramoff had
caught Reed at a ripe moment. 'Am at a lunch with Rove at the
(Republican National Committee) meeting and just talked to the
AG (John Ashcroft),' he e-mailed Abramoff on his BlackBerry. 'Will
report the substance shortly.' Reed agreed to give Rove materials
arguing the Choctaws' case." [Time, Sunday 10/23/05]
MARIANAS ISLANDS
Reed Helped Abramoff In His Effort to Stop A Key Hire
At the Interior Department. Reed acknowledges he used
his White House access for Abramoff. In December 2001 [Abramoff]
was eager to prevent Angela Williams from being appointed head
of the Interior Department's Office of Insular Affairs, which
oversees the government's dealings with the Northern Mariana Islands,
an Abramoff client...Reed assured Abramoff he had "weighed
in heavily" with the White House personnel office to block
her appointment but had received no commitment. 'Any ideas on
how we can make sure she does not get it?' Abramoff asked. 'Can
you ping Karl on this? I can't believe they just don't get this
done?' Reed replied, 'I am seeing him tomorrow at the WH and plan
to discuss it with him as well.'" [Time, Sunday 10/23/05]
CRUISE SHIPS AND 9/11
Abramoff Asked Reed to Help With Scheme To Use Cruise
Ships to House Rescue Workers After 9/11. Ten days after
9/11, Abramoff was promoting a business venture to rent cruise
ships to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to billet rescue
workers off New York City. Reed assured Abramoff he had "put
in a tag call to karl to find out the best contact at fema."
[Time, Sunday 10/23/05]
E-LOTTERY
Abramoff and Reed Used Norquist To Launder E-Lottery
Money. "Abramoff was lobbying for...eLottery Inc
against a bill in Congress that would have banned most online
betting. First the money was sent by eLottery to Americans for
Tax Reform...headed by Grover Norquist, who knew both Reed and
Abramoff. Norquist then wrote a check for $150,000 to a group
called Faith and Family Alliance of Virginia Beach. Faith and
Family Alliance wrote a check for the same amount to Reed's Century
Strategies...One of Faith and Family's founders, Tim Phillips,
was a vice president for Century Strategies." [Atlanta Journal
Constitution, 3/4/06]
LOUISIANA COUSHATTAS
Abramoff and Reed Worked Together on Louisiana Coushatta
Interests. Abramoff, who hired Reed to manage the anti-casino
campaign, made it clear to Reed that he was working for the Coushatta
Tribe of Louisiana, according to a February 11, 2002, e-mail.
After Reed sent Abramoff an article about The Coushatta Tribe
of Louisiana and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians. Abramoff responded,
"That's our client." Reed was eager for more with with
the Coushattas, asking in an email for an update on where things
stood with the Lousiana project. Reed wrote, "Let me know
where we stand on budget with your client. I think there is an
opportunity to show a lot of progress quickly." [Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, 11/3/05; Abramoff/Reed E-Mail, 2/11/02;
Abramoff/Reed/Scanlon E-Mail, 2/14/02]
DAVID SAFAVIAN
David Safavian, former Chief of Staff for GSA and Chief
Procurement Officer at the Office of Budget and Management, was
arrested for obstructing an ongoing Federal investigation into
Abramoff's business dealings with the Bush Administration and
Republican members of Congress. Safavian helped Abramoff lease
government property controlled by the agency where he worked.
He gave him advice over email, reviewed memos that Abramoff was
sending to other GSA employees, and set up a meeting for Abramoff's
wife and business partner with Administration officials.
CHITIMACHA TRIBE
Abramoff Wanted to Get Office Space in the Old Post
Office Pavillion for His Client, the Chitimacha Tribe.
Safavian tried to help Abramoff arrange a lease on favorable terms
for the Old Post Office Building, which was controlled by the
General Services Administration. An FBI affidavit said the client
was one of several Indian tribes that Mr. Abramoff has represented.
Email from Safavian to Abramoff identify that tribe as the Chitimachas.
Abramoff and Safavian even discussed the need for possible "Hill
pressure" to close the deal for Abramoff's tribal client
on the office space in the Old Post Office building. [New York
Times, 9/20/05; Email from Safavian to Abramoff, 11/18/02; Washington
Post, 1/21/05]
THE ESHKOL SCHOOL
Abramoff Asked Safavian For Help Obtaining Property
in Silver Spring for Religious School; Safavian Followed Up With
Phone Calls to the Hill. Abramoff was hoping to secure
a GSA lease for land in Silver Spring for the Eshkol Academy.
In a July 23, 2002, e-mail to GSA employee Shawn McBurney, Safavian
discussed getting information about the Silver Spring site to
Capito's office. He wrote "Spoke with people in property
disposal. They don't have the White Oak info. Can you please...get
that information for Shelly Moore Capito?" McBurney wrote
back "Already have. They [property disposal] need to know
what the info will be used for and who's requesting it. I have
a call into Mark [Capito's chief of staff] with those questions."
[AP, 2/11/06; Emails from Safavian to Shawn McBurney, 7/23/02]
MARIANAS ISLANDS
Safavian Named in Abramoff Marianas Trip Memo.
In memos dated May 6 and May 20, 1997 Bush Administration officials
are named as having traveled to the Marinas islands while working
for a lobbying firm. The memo shows that David Safavian was on
the trip to the Marianas Islands lead by Abramoff and had his
expenses picked up by the firm. [AP, 5/3/05]
TYCO
Safavian Told Abramoff That His Client Tyco Was About
to Lose Contracts; Abramoff Gave Tyco Heads-Up. According
to documents filed by the Justice Department, Abramoff tipped
his clients at Tyco off in 2003 that their contracts with the
government were about to be canceled. Abramoff got the information
David Safavian. Justice Department prosecutors accused Safavian
of providing "sensitive and confidential information"
about GSA deliberations. Safavian was also accused of providing
advice to Abramoff on how to circumvent the suspension. [Washington
Post, 1/28/06]
MICHAEL SCANLON
Michael Scanlon was Abramoff's partner and was involved
in all of his lobbying schemes from the Mississippi Choctaws to
the Saginaw Chippewa scandal. Scanlon pled guilty in the Abramoff
investigation and has critical knowledge of the inter-workings
of Abramoff's business deals.
ABRAMOFF'S TRIBAL CLIENTS
Scanlon Was Heavily Involved in Coushatta Tribal Issues,
Wrote Political Plan for Tribe. According to emails released
by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Scanlon had extensive knowledge
and was heavily involved in Abramoff's lobbying on behalf of the
Coushatta Indian Tribe. In an email dated April 18, 2001 Scanlon
wrote to the Katherine Van Hoof, the former Counsel to the Coushatta
Tribe, laying out the cost for the tribe's Political program.
Scanlon's program came to $539,000, and on June 26, 2001 he wrote
a summary of his efforts building the Coushatta's political program.
[Scanlon Emails, 4/18/01; 6/26/01]
Scanlon's Firm Capitol Campaign Strategies Received $500,000
From Mississippi Choctaws in October of 2002. According to emails
and tax records, Jack Abramoff convinced the Mississippi Choctaw
to donate $1 million to the Nation Center for Public Policy Research
in October of 2002. Shortly after, $500,000 was transferred out
of the NCPR's bank accounts to Capitol Campaign Strategies, which
was controlled by Scanlon. [Arizona Republic, 6/23/05; Senate
Indian Affairs Committee Hearing, 6/22/05; Roll Call, 11/3//05]
Scanlon Was Involved in Saginaw Chippewa Account. In an email
dated December 12, 2002 Scanlon wrote to Abramoff about possible
ways to get the Interior Department to reject a land request for
a tribe that wanted to open a casino, which would have competed
with Abramoff and Scanlon's Saginaw Chippewa clients. [Abramoff
Email, 12/16/01]
ABRAMOFF'S WORK WITH THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Scanlon May Have Knowledge of Abramoff's Interior Dealings.
"Scanlon may also be able to elaborate on e-mails that have
been made public by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, in which
Abramoff discussed job offers to public officials and his efforts
to get political appointees at the Interior Department to intercede
on issues affecting clients." [Washington Post, 11/20/05]
MONEY LAUNDERING WITH NORQUIST AND REED
Scanlon May Have Knowledge of Abramoff's Money Laundering
Scheme With Norquist and Reed. Scanlon may also be knowledgeable
about Abramoff's direction of tribal funds to several charitable
foundations and advocacy groups and tax-exempt organizations,
including one run by Grover Norquist. E-mail shows that Scanlon
was also intimately familiar with some of the financial dealings
of Ralph Reed. Abramoff went so far as to forward Reed's emails
to Scanlon, keeping him aware of Reed's efforts on their behalf.
In emails dated October 8 and November 9, 12, and 30; 2001 Abramoff
forwarded emails to Scanlon from Reed with status reports and
strategy discussions in them. In an email dated November 13, 2001
Abramoff looped Scanlon into a discussion of strategy to prevent
the Alabama Coushatta tribe from moving slot machines into their
casino. [Washington Post, 11/20/05; Abramoff Emails, 10/8/01;
11/9/01; 11/12/01; 11/13/01; 11/30/01]
Past News
August 2006
July 2006
June
2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November
2005
October
2005
September
2005
August
2005
July 2005
June 2005
