WP,pg1: West Virginia Democrat (Rep. Mollohan) Is Scrutinized

[DeepModem Mom]

West Virginia Democrat Is Scrutinized
Mollohan Has Close Ties to Groups Handling His District's Appropriations
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 15, 2006; Page A01

Starting in the 1990s, Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-W.Va.) chose an unusual way to funnel federal funds into his poverty-ridden district. He set up a network of nonprofit organizations to administer the millions of dollars he directed to such public endeavors as high-tech research and historic preservation.

Over the same period, Mollohan's personal fortunes soared. From 2000 to 2004, his assets grew from no more than $565,000 to at least $6.3 million. The partners in his rapidly expanding real estate empire included the head of one of these nonprofit groups and the owner of a local company for which he arranged substantial federal aid.

Mollohan used his seat on the House Appropriations Committee to secure more than $150 million for five nonprofit groups. One of the groups is headed by a former aide with whom Mollohan bought $2 million worth of property on Bald Head Island, N.C.

Controversy over this blending of commerce and legislation has triggered a federal probe, cost Mollohan his position on the House ethics committee and undermined the Democrats' effort to portray the GOP as the party of corruption because of the Jack Abramoff scandal. As early as today, the 12-term congressman will admit that he misstated some transactions in his congressional filings, according to Mollohan staffers....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/14/AR2006051401032.html

[Old and In the Way]

1. No doubt we have some freelancers that need to go.

But the difference here is that it is institutionalized in the Republican Party.

[Nite Owl]

2. Wrong is wrong

no matter which party is involved but come on they equate this with Abramoff and think that this makes the dems just like the gop? Gimme a break. Typical corporate media slant.

[stevedeshazer]

3. Sure wish the Washington Post would go after Ted Stevens

There's your massive corruption. Mollohan is small potatoes. Why are they going after him?

<snip>

Ted Stevens doesn't exploit loopholes, he drills them.

From his aerie in the US senate, the Alaska Republican exerts his power over vast terrains of legislation and budgeting, from the logging of the Tongass National Forest to the development of the Star Wars missile defense scheme.

Since Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Congress, became the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee in 1997, his power has magnified. Through his machinations, federal spending in Alaska has nearly doubled in the past eight years. On a per capita basis, Alaska now leads the nation in the receipt of federal money, at nearly $12,000 for each resident and twice the national average. Alaska also now occupies the top spot for so-called earmarked appropriations, special pet-projects in home states of senators and representatives on the appropriations committees. Under Stevens' sway, Alaska now gets more than $611 in federal funds for each Alaskan for these special earmarks. The national average for earmarked pork projects is $19 per capita.

Of course, this money doesn't go directly into the pockets of all Alaskans, but is channeled into projects benefiting the senator's political patrons and in some cases into projects in which the senator and his family own a financial stake.

source: http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair01272006.html

[creeksneakers2]

4. Its mostly just a smear

The article contains no specific accusations of any laws being broken, other than misreporting on Mollohan's financial disclosure form. The rest is just about things the wingers say look suspicious. The wingers raise suspicions and the victims have to prove their innocence. That's how this game works.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

5. he should step down so we can field another candidate in WV

he's taking much-needed resources from the struggle to rid ourselves of shelley moore capito

[WildClarySage]

6. I don't think so. An unknown candidate

would also drain resources. I like Mollohan, and so do most of his other constituents. If we allow the right wingers to determine who our candidates are through this kind of smearing, we've already lost the war.

[hollowdweller]

7. Mollohan aside. When Dems regain control

They really DO need to observe and pass high ethical standards. People should be in politics to help their constituents not to get a personal fortune or guarantee themselves or their relatives a job after they get out of office.

[Ian David]

8. Mollohan is being persecuted because he's a Christian. n/t