Pants on fire

“I told Congress thanks but no thanks to that Bridge to Nowhere -- that if our state wanted to build that bridge, we would build it ourselves," - Sarah Palin

Palin the "Reformer"

Sarah Palin has joined John McCain in his call to end congressional earmarks as a viable economic policy. I am in agreement with them that all federal spending needs to come out of legislative action on the floor rather than an earmark tacked on by a powerful legislator. However only a fool would think this is going to do anything to help our economy. Earmarks only make 0.6% of annual federal budget, that's right less than 1 percent.

The real humor in this is to hear Sarah Palin describe herself as a reformer. She is known as one of the largest purveyor's of pork out of all the governors. Here is an example from TPM of some of her "reform."

According to Alaska's 2009 catalog of earmark requests the state's sea life are in great need of federal money. As Politico points out, Palin's office requested $2 million in federal monies to study crab mating habits; $494,900 for the recreational halibut harvest and $3.2 million for seal genetics research.

Wow, she sounds like a real reformer. How she is able to hold a straight face on this one is a testament to how cold of a politician she is.

With this must pork coming out of her office no wonder the McCain camp thought Obama was referring to her when he said you can lipstick on a pig...

Who owns Roger Wicker?

Who owns Roger Wicker? Based on the data from The Center for Responsive Politics, the highest bidder. We have profiled Wicker's abysmal voting record. To say Roger Wicker is in opposition to his party's nominee on pork barrel spending is an understatement. We have looked at the quid pro quo, revolving door relationship between Roger Wicker and his "donors". We have been "shocked" by the telling fact that Roger Wicker has raised more from special interest money than Ronnie Musgrove has raised period.

Now this piece of information surfaces. Roger Wicker has raised $1,613,707 from special interest PAC's. Ronnie is right behind him with $77,500 of PAC money, mostly from labor. Yeah that is right, $1.6 million to less than a hundred large. Read it yourself here.

Roger Wicker "King of Pork"

Roger Wicker has consistently ranked as one of the top purveyors of pork on Capital Hill. Sunday's Commercial Appeal ran an article dealing with some of Wicker's pork barrel projects. While it is true that a lot of the earmarks are spent here in Mississippi, (Thad is another "King of Pork") the circular trail of money is very damning for Roger Wicker.

For fiscal year 2008, Wicker sponsored 42 earmarks totaling $159 million, ranking him among the House's top spenders.

Some of the companies that benefited from Wicker's earmarks were donors to the Mississippi politician. In addition, two such companies hired lobbyists who once worked as staffers in Wicker's congressional office.

It gets worse, keep reading...

For Wicker, fostering relationships with companies that benefit from his earmarks has paid off well. From the $159 million in earmarks Wicker delivered for companies, local governments and other organizations this fiscal year, $113,950 in campaign contributions can be directly traced to those earmark recipients, according to a review of federal records by The Commercial Appeal.

Steve Ellis, vice president of the independent watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, describes that circular money flow as "pay-to-play."

"These people are giving money with a purpose in mind," Ellis said. "This is not because, hey, Joe Blow is a nice guy. This is an investment."

I don't know about you, but I feel like taking a shower after reading that. It is no wonder Wicker is a fund-raising machine. It is real simple how this works. Roger gets his money that he needs to win elections, and in return the donors get big federal contracts (that you and I pay for). When John McCain rants endlessly about "pork barrel spending", think of none other than Roger Wicker a true "King of Pork".

Wicker leading Musgrove in campaign cash

Currently, Wicker has out-raised Musgrove by a hefty amount. This, of course, is no great surprise to us since Republicans always outraise the Democrats. The Musgrove camp, however, has done some research on where exactly all the money has come from. (Keep in mind, there are limits on donations to Federal campaigns.) I hate to put up such a long post, but it's interesting.

From the Clarion Ledger:

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker has raised more than five times the campaign cash raised by his Democratic rival, former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. Wicker raised about $2.5 million in the first three months of the year and Musgrove raised about $447,000, according to summary pages of Federal Election Commission filings released by the candidates Tuesday.

"I am grateful for the wide range of support from thousands of donors throughout Mississippi and the rest of the nation who have chosen to invest in our campaign," Wicker said.

Gov. Haley Barbour appointed Wicker to fill former Sen. Trent Lott's seat until a special election in November.

Musgrove campaign spokesman Tim Phillips said Wicker raised campaign cash by "doling out pork" to contributors.

Wicker's campaign said 77 percent of the donors are Mississippians. But the senator's FEC report showed nearly a third of the money came from political action committees, which usually represent industry or other special interests.

Wicker's FEC report shows he transferred $545,000 from his House campaign account to his Senate account. After spending nearly $300,000, his campaign reported about $2.8 million in cash on hand on March 31.

Musgrove's campaign ended the reporting period with about $337,000 in cash.

From a Musgrove press release:

From 2002-2007, Wicker never opposed a single appropriations bill while they were being loaded with $122 billion in pork barrel spending, and he doled out a whopping $39 million in earmark goodies for his campaign contributors—attaching them to appropriations bills with no Congressional hearings or debate. Several earmarks, which Wicker slipped into appropriations bills, are directly linked to campaign contributions.

Pay To Play

In 2007, Wicker Obtained $6 Million Defense Earmark for Aurora Flight Sciences: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for the company Aurora Flight Sciences “to develop a high altitude UAV to meet urgent national requirements for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, beyond line of sight communications, and assist in further development of key technologies needed for long-term operations in near space.” An Army spokesman said that the Army did not request the appropriation. The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $6 million for Aurora’s Orion High Altitude Long Endurance UAV. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database; “Wicker’s earmark elicits crititcism”,Washington Post, 1/16/08

In 2006, Wicker Supported $11 Million Earmark for Aurora Flight Sciences: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $11 million for Aurora Flight Sciences. (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

In 2005, Wicker Supported $5.2 Million Earmark for Aurora Flight Sciences: In December 2005, Wicker touted the FY06 Defense Appropriations Bill, saying that Aurora Flight Services “will benefit from a $5.2 million project that includes production of an Orion-class UAV as well as flight testing, sensor installation and related activities on the vehicle.” (Wicker Press Release, 12/20/05)

Wicker Has Received $17,500 From Aurora Employees; They Were Top Donor in ’06 Cycle: Over the years, Aurora Flight Sciences have contributed at least $17,500 to Wicker’s campaigns. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Aurora Flights Sciences was the top donor to Wicker’s 2006 election, with employees contributing $13,000 that cycle. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Wicker Obtained $4 Million Defense Earmark for Miltec Corp: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for Miltec Research and Technology, to develop sensor technology. The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $4 million for Miltec. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database)

In 2006, Wicker Supported $2.5 Million Earmark for Miltec: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $2.5 million for Miltec Corporation. (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

Wicker Has Received Over $24,000 From Miltec Employees: Over the years, Miltec employees have contributed at least $24,500 to Wicker’s campaigns and his leadership PAC, Responsibility & Freedom Work PAC. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Wicker Obtained $1 Million Earmark for Rite Kem: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for Rite Kem to develop and produce an aircraft corrosion protective compound. The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $1 million for Rite Kem. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database)

Less Than One Month After Requesting Earmark, Wicker Received Campaign Check From Company Exec: Less than one month after requesting the earmark for Rite Kem, company President Mark Lovil contributed $2,000 to Wicker’s campaign committee. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Wicker Obtained $1.2 Million Earmark for Radiance Technologies: In March 2007, Wicker requested an earmark for Radiance Technologies “to develop and demonstrate capabilities such as man-portable radar systems, reduced power consumption, greater target detection ranges, increased target discrimination, and lower operating cost.” The final FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill then included $1.2 million for Radiance Technologies. (Wicker Appropriations Letter, 3/22/07; Taxpayers for Common Sense Earmarks Database)

In 2006, Wicker Supported $2.5 Million Earmark for Radiance Technologies: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $2.5 million for Radiance Technologies. (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

In 2005, Wicker Supported $3.1 Million Earmark for Radiance Technologies: In December 2005, Wicker touted the FY06 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $3.1 million for Radiance Technologies. (Wicker Press Release, 12/20/05)

Wicker Has Received Over $5,000 From Radiance Tech Employees: Over the years, Radiance employees have contributed at least $5,500 to Wicker’s campaigns. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

In 2006, Wicker Supported $2.5 Million Earmark for Planning Systems Inc: In June 2006, Wicker touted the FY07 Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $2.5 million for Planning Systems Inc. “to develop advanced reconnaissance technology for military aircraft to transmit real-time information to troops on the ground.” (Wicker Press Release, 6/21/06)

Wicker Has Received $8,000 From Planning Systems Inc: Over the years, Wicker has received at least $8,000 from Planning Systems Inc. PAC and employees. (Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/7/08)

Interim Senator Roger Wicker and Ethics

Early last month the Project on Government Oversight put out THIS report detailing possibly shady dealings in Roger Wicker's actions. That article caught Will Barwell's eye garnering THIS post discussing "Roger Wicker's Convenient Interest in Unmanned Flight." Now the Washington Post has noticed now that Wicker is a Senator and deserving of more scrutiny.

Washington Post

Over the past three years, as Aurora sought defense contracts, the Republican member of the Appropriations defense subcommittee received escalating contributions from the company's executives. Aurora was Wicker's top source of campaign funds in 2006, campaign finance records show. In 2005, the company flew the congressman on a private jet to the ribbon cutting of a manufacturing facility it opened in Wicker's Mississippi district.

And just days after Wicker's chief of staff, John Keast, left his employ in 2006, Aurora began listing the former staffer on public forms as one of its lobbyists in Washington. Wicker placed the earmark in a defense appropriations bill that became law in November 2007.

The Democrats Respond:

“Roger Wicker is the poster child for quid pro quo politics, repaying campaign cash with an even more generous earmark,” said Wayne Dowdy, chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party.

“Sen. Wicker was elected to look out for the people of Mississippi, not to fill his campaign coffers. When the moving company relocates Wicker’s things from his House office to his temporary Senate office, I hope they leave the revolving door behind.”

Will state media respond OR like during the gubernatorial campaign can we expect crickets?