http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/09/AR2006020901208_pf.html
Abramoff Team and Reid's Office Had Frequent Contact, Records Show
By John Solomon and Sharon Theimer
Associated Press
Friday, February 10, 2006; A08
EXCERPT
Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and Reid's staff had frequent contact with the disgraced lobbyist's team about legislation.
The activities -- detailed in previously unreported billing records and correspondence -- occurred over three years as Reid (D-Nev.) collected nearly $68,000 in political donations from Abramoff's firm, lobbying partners and clients.
Reid's office yesterday acknowledged having "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners. Reid intervened on government matters in ways that Abramoff's tribal clients might have deemed helpful, once opposing legislation on the Senate floor and four times sending letters pressing the Bush administration on tribal issues. Reid collected donations around the time of each action.
Abramoff's firm also hired one of Reid's top legislative aides as a lobbyist. The aide later helped throw a fundraiser for Reid at Abramoff's firm that raised money from several of Abramoff's lobbying partners.
Senator Harry Reid has Serious Abramoff Problem
Discussion in '2006 Archive' started by carpro, Feb 10, 2006.
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This can't be! Howard Dean and the Democratic spin-meisters claim that this is an exclusively-Republican scandal!
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The worst thing about this "scandal" is that it will be used to further restrict access to elected officials, further protect incumbents, and overall move government further away from people... making them even more dependent on pollsters and the media.
We need to multiply our representation by a factor of 3-5 and put them closer to the people they represent. Citizens shouldn't have to hire professional power brokers to represent their interest to their elected representative.
This is an example of the absurdity of the modern perversion of our constitutional republic. -
I think we should make our senators and congressmen live in taxpayer-furnished barracks, eat at a mess hall, and draw $1 in salary.
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Harry is a Democrat. No problem.
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More democrats will be snared in the Abramoff net than they care to admit.
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No problem. Take 'em all out. Now we find that Bush was an Abrahamoff buddy, had him in at the WH, and even invited him to the ranch.
And a couple of WH staffers are now ensnared in the growing scandal.
If there were democrats involved. get them, too.
The rot in Washington has infected the executive and the legislative to the point that we need to toss all of them out and start over. -
Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>Site Supporter
Yup.
We need a third party, but won't get one. Too much money involved. A guy who worked for a living cannot compete with the money that is allready there.
Besides, it's great business. Think about it. You have Rush Limbaugh saying the left is nuts, Al Franken saying the right is nuts, and they both have the same sponsors.
It's hopeless.