Boehner Rents Apartment Owned by Lobbyist in D.C.

[centristo]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020701913.html

Boehner Rents Apartment Owned by Lobbyist in D.C.

By Thomas B. Edsall and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, February 8, 2006; Page A03

Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), who was elected House majority leader last week, is renting his Capitol Hill apartment from a veteran lobbyist whose clients have direct stakes in legislation Boehner has co-written and that he has overseen as chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee.

The relationship between Boehner, John D. Milne and Milne's wife, Debra R. Anderson, underscores how intertwined senior lawmakers have become with the lobbyists paid to influence legislation. Boehner's primary residence is in West Chester, Ohio, but for $1,600 a month, he rents a two-bedroom basement apartment near the House office buildings on Capitol Hill owned by Milne, Boehner spokesman Don Seymour said yesterday. Boehner's monthly rent appears to be similar to other rentals of two-bedroom English basement apartments close to the House side of the Capitol in Southeast, based on a review of apartment listings.

/snip

House members may not accept anything from lobbyists worth more than $50. If Boehner is paying market-rate rent, it would appear he is not violating that rule.

Boehner's work closely coincides with the interests of Milne. In 2002, the House approved the Economic Security and Worker Assistance Act, a tax measure originally drafted by Boehner, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Tex.) and Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.) as the Back to Work Act. The measure eventually was signed into law.

[Sammy Pepys]

1. $1600 is about right

He's not getting any special deal.

[centristo]

3. yeah it sounds legit

but geez, why even tempt the criticism? It seems so obvious that if you are a congressman you shouldn't be renting, loaning, buying, or borrowing ANYTHING from a lobbyist that is directly dealing with you. Boehner must have skipped Bush's ethics classes.

[kentuck]

2. I think the Repubs should have another special election...

before the whole story comes out on Mr. Boehner... :)

[underpants]

4. Yeah it sounds like his is a "kept man"

if you know what I am saying and I think you do....he is awful purty. Shiny purty.