Congressman Funnels $250,000,000 Into His Organizations (1 Viewer)

[RightinNYC]

This was A1 in the NYTimes today, surprised nobody has posted the story yet.

Looks like the temptation to misuse power isn't just limited to Republicans these days...

As lawmakers have increasingly slipped pet projects into federal spending bills over the past decade, one lawmaker has used his powerful perch on the House Appropriations Committee to funnel $250 million into five nonprofit organizations that he set up.

$250 million into his own groups? That seems a bit excessive, even by federal government standards. But he probably did something good with the money, like build soup kitchens or homeless shelters, right?

The most ambitious effort by the congressman, Alan B. Mollohan, is a glistening glass-and-steel structure with a swimming pool, sauna and spa rising in a former cow pasture in Fairmont, W.Va., thanks to $103 million of taxpayer money he garnered through special spending allocations known as earmarks.

Oh. Hrmmm. Well, at least the non-profit that the structure was built for will be doing all sorts of good things for the West Virginia community, right?

The headquarters building is likely to sit largely empty upon completion this summer, because the Mollohan-created organization that it was built for, the Institute for Scientific Research, is in disarray, its chief executive having resigned under a cloud of criticism over his $500,000 annual compensation, also paid by earmarked federal money.

Oh. Well, it's not like the Congressman himself actually profited, it was just that one corrupt CEO, right?

The five organizations have diverse missions but form a cozy, cross-pollinated network in the forlorn former coal capitals of north-central West Virginia. Mr. Mollohan has recruited many of their top employees and board members, including longtime friends or former aides, who in turn provide him with steady campaign contributions and positive publicity in their newsletters...

...Those forms show a jump in Mr. Mollohan's portfolio from less than $500,000 in assets generating less than $80,000 in income in 2000 to at least $6.3 million in assets earning $200,000 to $1.2 million in 2004, along with large mortgage debts.

Oh. Granted, that seems a bit fishy, but its probably not all that unique. I mean, Congressmen do things like this all the time, he isn't any different from the rest, right?

Although Mr. Mollohan's mentor, Senator Robert C. Byrd has long blanketed the state in bacon in the form of large public works projects and federal complexes, Mr. Mollohan has directed more than half his earmarks to his five organizations of his design.

Several people involved in the appropriations process said no other lawmaker employed that strategy to the same extent.

Ouch. This all seems like pretty damning evidence. But in the end, this shouldn't be reflective of Democrats as a whole. It's probably just a case of some junior lawmaker overreaching, not knowing what he's doing, right?

The case has led several Republican leaders to call for Mr. Mollohan's removal from the House Ethics committee, where he is the senior Democrat.

Oh boy.

 

[Indy]

This was A1 in the NYTimes today, surprised nobody has posted the story yet.

Looks like the temptation to misuse power isn't just limited to Republicans these days...



$250 million into his own groups? That seems a bit excessive, even by federal government standards. But he probably did something good with the money, like build soup kitchens or homeless shelters, right?



Oh. Hrmmm. Well, at least the non-profit that the structure was built for will be doing all sorts of good things for the West Virginia community, right?



Oh. Well, it's not like the Congressman himself actually profited, it was just that one corrupt CEO, right?



Oh. Granted, that seems a bit fishy, but its probably not all that unique. I mean, Congressmen do things like this all the time, he isn't any different from the rest, right?



Ouch. This all seems like pretty damning evidence. But in the end, this shouldn't be reflective of Democrats as a whole. It's probably just a case of some junior lawmaker overreaching, not knowing what he's doing, right?



Oh boy.

I agree with you. The money was missused and this funding should have come from the state level not the natn'l level and ONLY if it was approved by the state legislature.

 

[RightinNYC]

I agree with you. The money was missused and this funding should have come from the state level not the natn'l level and ONLY if it was approved by the state legislature.

If this is proven true, this guy deserves a jail cell right next to Randy Cunningham. I'm sick of elected officials who think that our tax dollars are theirs to **** away.

 

[Middleground]

I'm sick of elected officials who think that our tax dollars are theirs to **** away.

That's the bottom line.

Theft and personal gain has no party. Elected politicians are there to represent THE PEOPLE. It makes me sick to read things like this.

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

This was A1 in the NYTimes today, surprised nobody has posted the story yet.

Looks like the temptation to misuse power isn't just limited to Republicans these days...



$250 million into his own groups? That seems a bit excessive, even by federal government standards. But he probably did something good with the money, like build soup kitchens or homeless shelters, right?



Oh. Hrmmm. Well, at least the non-profit that the structure was built for will be doing all sorts of good things for the West Virginia community, right?



Oh. Well, it's not like the Congressman himself actually profited, it was just that one corrupt CEO, right?



Oh. Granted, that seems a bit fishy, but its probably not all that unique. I mean, Congressmen do things like this all the time, he isn't any different from the rest, right?



Ouch. This all seems like pretty damning evidence. But in the end, this shouldn't be reflective of Democrats as a whole. It's probably just a case of some junior lawmaker overreaching, not knowing what he's doing, right?



Oh boy.

Democrats are living in a culture of corruption. :lol:

 

[Stinger]

It's only corruption if it involves Republicans according to the left. They have ignored all the Dems involved in Abramhoff and those with thier own "problems" such as Jefferson. And when it is noted they get highly upset.

 

[Alias]

Byrd has been doing this for years. Half the state is named after him.

 

[RightinNYC]

It's only corruption if it involves Republicans according to the left. They have ignored all the Dems involved in Abramhoff and those with thier own "problems" such as Jefferson. And when it is noted they get highly upset.

I don't know that I'm ready to say that it's deliberately being ignored, but I think its significant that this story has been met with utter silence by the left. This is, if not as egregious as Cunningham, certainly serious enough to warrant a resignation if proven true. You'd think people would talk about it.

 

[RightinNYC]

Byrd has been doing this for years. Half the state is named after him.

The difference between your average pork-fiend like Byrd and this guys is that this guy took the majority of his pork and put it into 5 specific organizations that he founded, which were run by colleagues, family members, and friends. The man allegedly directed money directly into his pockets from the federal coffers. That's called theft. Unlike pork which is slightly more complicated theft.

 

[tryreading]

Although Mr. Mollohan's mentor, Senator Robert C. Byrd has long blanketed the state in bacon in the form of large public works projects and federal complexes, Mr. Mollohan has directed more than half his earmarks to his five organizations of his design.

Several people involved in the appropriations process said no other lawmaker employed that strategy to the same extent.

If that story is accurate, he should be jailed. So should the others, who have done this to a lesser extent.

 

[RightinNYC]

More:

Over the past three years, Mollohan, a Democrat first elected in 1982 to a seat long held by his father, has bought $2 million worth of property on Bald Head Island, N.C., with Laura Kurtz Kuhns, a former employee who now runs one of the organizations and is on the boards of two others.

The guy hired a former employee and close friend to leadership positions in 3 of his 5 organizations, paid her salary through federally funded earmarks, and then went into the real estate market as her investment partner, making millions of dollars off of it. Absolutely pathetic.

Any thoughts out there from the left? There's over 2,000 posts about Delay and Cunningham on this site, how about some from the left come to share a thought or two on one of their own?

 

[akyron]

More:


The guy hired a former employee and close friend to leadership positions in 3 of his 5 organizations, paid her salary through federally funded earmarks, and then went into the real estate market as her investment partner, making millions of dollars off of it. Absolutely pathetic.

Any thoughts out there from the left? There's over 2,000 posts about Delay and Cunningham on this site, how about some from the left come to share a thought or two on one of their own?

Mollohan is going to be playing magic the gathering with Randy Cunningham in the prison yard soon.

 

[RightinNYC]

Mollohan is going to be playing magic the gathering with Randy Cunningham in the prison yard soon.

Is that what it's called now? Hmmmm.

 

[akyron]

Is that what it's called now? Hmmmm.

They probably call it hiding the illegal bribery.

 

[Befuddled_Stoner]

8th amendment of the constitution? Traitorous bastards like this waive that when they decide to sell America out for their own personal gain. Nothing we can do to them can possible be commensurate with the damage their actions have done to our country. I call myself a liberal, but who really gives a **** about party affliation when politicans are gorging themselves on public dollars?

 

[Befuddled_Stoner]

They probably call it hiding the illegal bribery.

Nah, they probably call it hiding just how legal they've made bribery

 

[Alias]

The part I love is when liberals slam republicans for being the party of the rich. I guess they don't realize the 3 wealthiest members of Congress, Kennedy, Kerry, and Rockefellar are democrats. Then you guys holler and scream when people call you ignorant.

 

[shuamort]

Byrd has been doing this for years. Half the state is named after him.

Is that what people mean when they "give someone the Byrd"?

I think it's time for line item veto amendment again.

 

[shuamort]

Byrd has been doing this for years. Half the state is named after him.

Is that what people mean when they "give someone the Byrd"?

I think it's time for line item veto amendment again.

 

[NoMoreDems-Reps]

Well let's see The DEMS&REPS have been in power for ? ? 100yrs?
This BS has been going on for ?? 100yrs? We even have a name for
Government wasting "OUR" money "Pork Barrel Spending"!


So when the American people see that the DEMS&REPS **** away their
hard earned tax dollars what do the American people do............?

Oh yeah they sit there bitching and moaning and on election day they
vote back in those same Parties/people that just screwed you over!!!

So I think at this point politicians don't care! Because Americans have
proven that they are too weak to stand up for themselves!

Please Read the Declaration of Independence

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

 

[RightinNYC]

Is that what people mean when they "give someone the Byrd"?

I think it's time for line item veto amendment again.

I agree. Damn liberal supreme court!:lol:

 

[Alex]

Whether Republican or Democrat, or whatever, if he is guilty, he should go to prison.

 

[Thorgasm]

More proof that both parties have outlived their usefullness. Too bad the lemmings won't send them that message.

 

[tryreading]

I agree. Damn liberal supreme court!:lol:

You don't want the crowd currently in Washingon to meddle with the Constitution, do you?

Now, a legal way to do the same thing would be to have Congress submit each bill item as a separate bill. Then the President can sign the bills he thinks are proper, and discard the rest. The Congressmen who think the President should have the line item veto should move to do this, if they are serious about spending. If.

 

[RightinNYC]

You don't want the crowd currently in Washingon to meddle with the Constitution, do you?

Now, a legal way to do the same thing would be to have Congress submit each bill item as a separate bill. Then the President can sign the bills he thinks are proper, and discard the rest. The Congressmen who think the President should have the line item veto should move to do this, if they are serious about spending. If.

I think that would be faaaaaar too complicated. Personally, the best route I can see would be to pass a line item veto amendment. Although, i fear its about as likely as that balanced budget amendment i dream of....

Now, as a stop gap, the proposals to force every earmark to have the sponsors name attached and be voted on is a nice one.