U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers and The UNITE Foundation (Uh-oh!)

[Ian David]

Rogers to give away $32,000 from Abramoff's casino clients
By John Cheves
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

FRANKFORT - U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers said last night he will give away $32,000 in campaign donations he had accepted from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's Indian casino clients.

The money should not be allowed to become a problem, said Rogers, a Republican who represents Southeast Kentucky's 5th Congressional District. It will go to the UNITE Foundation, a non-profit group he helped organize in his district to fight drug trafficking and treat addiction.

"Although these contributions were lawfully made and properly reported, out of an abundance of caution, so as to avoid any appearance of impropriety, I am donating these funds to the UNITE Foundation," Rogers said after a query from the Herald-Leader.

<snip>

Only one Kentucky politician took a donation directly from Abramoff: U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a Republican, who accepted $1,000 in 2003. Bunning's office did not return a call yesterday.

The rest of the money came from Indian tribes in Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan and California who lobbied Congress on gambling issues. Their desires for Kentucky lawmakers are unknown. None of the politicians would respond to questions about the tribes yesterday, and none of the tribal governments returned calls.

More:
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/13544442.htm

I think we need to watch their "charitable" donations as closely as we watch their lobbyist gifts.

Nothing here:
http://www.charitywatch.org/


Nothing here:
http://www.give.org/reports/index.asp

Nothing here:
http://www.guidestar.org/

Nothing here:
http://www.charities.org/memberdir/index.cfm?Startrow=1&fa=srchRslt&keyword=UNITE+Foundation&x=0&y=0

Posted by: imo | Saturday, January 07, 2006 at 07:13 AM

To: Bil
Harold Rogers KY-5
UNITE Charity vs. Quasi-Political Group Abramoff donation charity

You might look at these articles or give these sources to your newspaper friends to get them started if they don't have this thread already.

If Hal Rogers could use his UNITE network in KY-5 to encourage research based treatment programs we could excuse his acquired Republican ideas of underfunding mental health centers and over funding "emotional-appeal" quasi political groups like UNITE.

The facts are that medications exist to fix our drug epidemic, and its resulting crime and societal nightmare. Politicians like Bush that successfully make it with the 12- Step programs vs. methadone vs. funding...all resist research based medication treatment protocols because of their fear that another new pill spells death for their own sobriety or a program already in place.....turf wars. Out of 4000 doctors using this medication for patients only 12 reported in KY. General Practioners can use bupe, but Rogers and Fletcher would need to support them, and give them the cover to get the job done. General Practioners understandably shun the drug culture knowing that patients will steal the nurse's purse etc. The thirty patient limit was lifted this summer so the table is set. Ky needs a method to get these patients help with the public's support.

Buprenorphine or "Bupe"
It's marketed now by Reckitt Benckiser makers of Lysol. No aggressive marketing because their not really a drug company.

Quick reads to get to the threads:

Heroin Detox, Kentucky Underutilizes Buprenorphine
http://tinyurl.com/8wjox

Wikipedia-Buprenorphine

Wired Magazine April 2005 The Bitter Pill, by Douglas McCray
http://tinyurl.com/dal34

Posted by: imo | Saturday, January 07, 2006 at 07:13 AM

More:
http://www.bluegrassreport.org/bluegrass_politics/2006/01/now_they_care_.html#comment-12644853

You gotta go read the rest of this thread!

[tanyev]

1. Gee, do any of his family members work for that "charity"?

[Ian David]

2. Nobody else thinks this may be important?

I'm gonna cross-post in the Kentucky forum.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=154x909

[TheGunslinger]

3. Inquiring minds want to know.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. K&R - it's important to monitor where the "give-backs" go...

We mustn't forget the fake charities set up by DeLay to launder the money in the first place!:thumbsup: