Washington Deal Maker Details Palm Greasing ( NYT)

[spindrifter]

By DAVID JOHNSTON and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: August 6, 2006

WASHINGTON — In 1992, Brent R. Wilkes rented a suite at the Hyatt Hotel a few blocks from the Capitol. In his briefcase was a stack of envelopes for a half-dozen congressmen, each packet containing up to $10,000 in checks.

Mr. Wilkes had set up separate meetings with the lawmakers hoping to win a government contract, and he planned to punctuate each pitch with a campaign donation. But his hometown congressman, Representative Bill Lowery of San Diego, a Republican, told him that presenting the checks during the sessions was not how things were done, Mr. Wilkes recalled.

Instead, Mr. Wilkes said, Mr. Lowery taught him the right way to do it: hand over the envelope in the hallway outside the suite, at least a few feet away.

That was the beginning of a career built on what Mr. Wilkes calls “transactional lobbying,” which made him a rich man but also landed him in the middle of a criminal investigation.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/washington/06wilkes.html?hp&ex=1154836800&en=b811f7519279d9b2&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[GardeningGal]

1. Holy f*in shit, everyone should read this n/t

[Lasher]

2. John Murtha mentioned

Also former Representative Charlie Wilson (D) from TX and Representative Duncan Hunter (R) from CA, who currently chairs the House Armed Services Committee.

I hope Murtha isn't implicated.

[Vinca]

4. It's a 2 way street. You can accept the contributions as long as

they aren't linked to an action in return for them. I bet the NYT threw in Murtha's name to keep the White House off their backs.

[w4rma]

3. Here we go. This is a *must read* article. (nt)

[cannondale]

5. Murtha Meeting

I wish they had said more than the fact that a meeting had been set up. Doesn't mean that they actually met, but it would be nice to know.

[SeaBob]

6. How quickly they

learn the corruption rules.

[Outlier]

7. I guess it is easiest to just

assume the worst. This is why only 50% of the people vote.