Boehner and Blunt: More Of The Same From The GOP
November 17, 2006
After losing control of the House and Senate, House Republicans have decided to 'stay the course' with their failed leadership. This morning, Republicans chose to keep their current leaders, John Boehner and Roy Blunt, for the next two years during the 110th Congress. Boehner has strong ties to Republican lobbyists and special interests in Washington, while Blunt was a protégé and top aide to indicted former GOP leader Tom DeLay. It is clear from the selection of their leadership that Republicans learned nothing from last week's elections.
“This morning, after losing control of Congress due to years of incompetence, cronyism and a long history of putting special interests ahead of America's working families, Republicans in Congress decided to 'stay the course,'” said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. “By standing by John Boehner and Roy Blunt as their leaders in Congress, it is clear that the Republican Party still refuses to offer the American people a new direction and new leadership.”
John Boehner: The Lobbyists' Friend
Boehner Distributed Checks from Tobacco PACs to Members on the House Floor. In 1995, after riding to power on ethics in government issues, Boehner distributed about 6 checks from tobacco PACs to members on the House floor. This was legal at the time, but it was frowned upon by Democrats and Republicans alike. When asked why he did it, a Boehner staffer responded simply, “The floor is where the members meet with each other.” [New York Times, 5/10/96]
Boehner Has “K Street Cabinet.” According to The Hill, Boehner “has assembled a loyal and effective network of lobbyists. Boehner formed his alliances on K Street when he served as chairman of the GOP conference from 1995 to 1998, when his portfolio included working with lobbyists on K Street. … Many GOP sources say Boehner would receive strong support from his so-called K Street Cabinet if he decides to run for another leadership post.” [The Hill, 10/6/05]
- Boehner “Criticized for His Ties to Lobbyists.” In 2006, the Dayton Daily News reported, “Boehner has been criticized for his ties to lobbyists.” [Dayton Daily News, 1/9/06]
- Former Boehner Aides Work in House Leadership, in the White House, on K Street. In 2005, Roll Call reported, “In addition to the Members he has met through his policy work and fundraising, Boehner also has former aides in key positions, including Brian Gaston and Sam Geduldig in Blunt's office. Off the Hill, former Boehner staffers hold posts in the White House and on K Street, where the Ohio lawmaker has numerous fans.” [Roll Call, 4/7/05]
Boehner Arranged for A Lobbyist to "Educate" Him and His Wife in Barcelona And Seville. In 2004, USA Today reported on ways members can take advantage of House ethics rules. As an example, the paper cited an educational trip taken by Reps Boehner, Burr and their spouses. According to USA Today, “On their face, the ethics rules would seem to bar any self-dealing or profit-taking by members. In reality, they actually legalize conduct that would be viewed as grossly unethical or corrupt in the other government branches. … the following are four easy lessons on how to earn millions on a government salary… You can never have too much 'education.' While ethics rules prohibit gifts and speaking fees, members routinely accept thousands of dollars in expenses and travel from lobbyists and business associations. These paid vacations are billed as 'educational' for members of Congress, and they are clearly eager to learn. For example…Burr and Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, arranged for a lobbyist to 'educate' them and their spouses in Barcelona and Seville.” [USA Today, 12/28/04]
In Wake Of DeLay Scandals, Boehner Had No Plan To Change Lobbying Rules. John Boehner became House Republican Leader after Tom DeLay stepped down amid a swirl of ethics problems. In an interview with the Washington Post shortly after taking his new post, Boehner "emphasized that he has no plan to change lobbying rules." He also said that he would not seek a ban on "provisions in spending bills that fund lawmakers' pet projects," also known as earmarks. [Washington Post, 2/4/06]
Roy Blunt: DeLay Protégé
Blunt Named One of 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress. In 2005, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), named Blunt one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress. CREW named Blunt because of his alleged “misuse of his position for the benefit of his family.” The report cites Blunt's involvement in pushing legislation that it says benefited Philip Morris and United Parcel Service. Blunt's wife, Abigail Perlman, is a lobbyist for the Altria Group, which owns Philip Morris, and a son, Andrew Blunt, lobbies for UPS in the Missouri Statehouse. [Joplin Globe, 9/27/05]
Blunt Has Close Family Ties to Companies With Business Before Congress. According to the Washington Post, “Over the years, seven companies with business before Congress stand out as the most reliable Blunt supporters: Altria, SBC Communications, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, Verizon, United Parcel Service and BellSouth have together given more than $1.2 million to political committees tied to Blunt. Altria is the largest contributor, giving more than $270,000. Blunt, a vocal social conservative, divorced Roseann Blunt, his first wife, to marry Altria lobbyist Abigail Perlman in October 2003.” In addition, Blunt's son Andrew is also a lobbyist for Altria-owned Kraft Foods, Philip Morris, and 36 percent Altria-owned Miller Brewing, along with SBC Missouri, Burlington Northern and UPS. [Washington Post, 5/17/05]
Shortly After Becoming Whip Blunt Sought to Help Philip Morris Who His Son Lobbied For. According to the Washington Post, “only hours after Rep. Roy Blunt was named to the House's third-highest leadership job in November, he surprised his fellow top Republicans by trying to quietly insert a provision benefiting Philip Morris USA into the 475-page bill creating a Department of Homeland Security, according to several people familiar with the effort.” The provision would have made it harder to sell tobacco products over the Internet and would have cracked down on the sale of contraband cigarettes, two practices that cut into Philip Morris's profits. Andrew B. Blunt, one of the lawmaker's sons, is a lobbyist for Philip Morris in Missouri. According to the Washington Post story, Philip Morris has contributed more than $ 150,000 to political committees affiliated with Blunt since 2001 through the date of the printing of the story. [Washington Post, 6/11/03]
Blunt Had Provision Helpful to UPS, His Son's Client, Inserted Into Senate Bill. “In April, for instance, Blunt managed to have a provision inserted into a Senate bill, without debate, on behalf of United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp. The two companies were seeking to block the expansion of a foreign rival's U.S. operations. Blunt's son Andrew also represents UPS in Missouri, as the Wall Street Journal first reported, and the two companies have contributed a total of $ 120,000 to Blunt since 2001, according to Federal Election Commission data.” [Washington Post, 6/11/03]
Blunt A Tom DeLay Protégé. According to Business Week, “Blunt, 55, No. 3 in the current leadership and a DeLay protege, is the early favorite for promotion. He's a darling of the Religious Right, tight with Bush, and close to Missouri companies, including Anheuser-Busch, Emerson Electric, and Jones Financial Cos. If Republicans believe DeLay was railroaded, Blunt benefits. But if The Hammer gets nailed, Blunt could suffer collateral damage.” [Business Week, 5/16/05]
- Blunt Voted the DeLay Line Over 9 Times Out of Ten. Blunt has voted with Tom DeLay 95% of the time. [Congressional Quarterly, www.cq.com]
- Blunt Voted to Change House Rules to Protect DeLay, Then Retreated. Roy Blunt voted to weaken the ethics rules in a move that many say served only to protect Tom DeLay. When Republicans realized it was "impossible to win the communications battle" over the gutted ethics rules, Blunt flip-flopped and voted to put the old rules back into place. [H Res. 5, Roll Call #6, 1/4/05; H. Res. 153, Roll Call #70, 3/15/05; Washington Post, 4/27/05]
- Blunt Said DeLay Has Not Done Anything Wrong. In an April 2005 interview on “Meet the Press,” Blunt said, “My impression is [Delay] has not done anything wrong. I know he has certainly spent lots of time and effort over the years, lots of money on ethics attorneys, to be sure he knew where the lines were, and those lines weren't crossed, and that's why we have those ethics rules so that members know where the lines are. [NBC News Transcripts, 4/27/05]
