Bribery Contractor deal was Katherine Harris priority-former staffers say

[kpete]

Contractor's deal was Harris priority, former staffers say

Jim Stratton | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 4, 2006

Former senior members of U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris' congressional staff say they initially rejected a defense contractor's $10 million appropriation request last year but reversed course after being instructed by Harris to approve it.

Harris insisted that Mitchell Wade's request for funding be given to a defense appropriations subcommittee, despite the request's being late and difficult to understand, according to two former staff members and Harris' former chief political strategist.

"She said, 'It's important to me, so submit it,' " said an ex-staffer who was involved in the process. "She wanted it in."

Wade is the contractor at the center of a congressional bribery scandal that has landed a California lawmaker in prison.

In the weeks before Harris submitted Wade's appropriations request, Wade spent up to $2,800 entertaining Harris at one of Washington's most expensive restaurants.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-mharrisrequest006may04,0,6180280.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

[Caoimhe]

1. What does one get for $2,800?

My God this woman is shameless and corrupt. No way she gets elected.

[Kadie]

2. Here is Yahoo! link if anyone wants to vote it up...

Rep. Harris' Action Prompts Call for Probe
2 hours, 26 minutes ago



ORLANDO, Fla. - A political strategist who left U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris (news, bio, voting record)'s Senate campaign last month said Harris ignored her staff's recommendation to reject a defense contractor's $10 million appropriation request, now being challenged by a congressional
watchdog group.


Harris insisted the request be submitted even though it was late and hard to understand, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel's Thursday editions. The newspaper cites Harris' former chief political strategist Ed Rollins.

"She told them she wanted it done," Rollins told the paper. "And she wanted it done now."

Harris spokesman Chris Ingram declined to comment Thursday when reached by The Associated Press. The Sentinel said Harris did not respond to its repeated inquiries.

On Monday, the congressional watchdog group Common Cause asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Harris attempted to obtain the appropriation in return for financial support from the defense contractor, Mitchell Wade.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060504/ap_on_el_se/common_cause_harris_1

[ShortnFiery]

3. Oh yeah, only 16 votes to date, but I added my one - 5 stars! eom