Nicaraguan land deals raise questions for Weller

[NNN0LHI]

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/nicaraguan_land_deals_raise_qu.html

Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) might seem an unlikely international real estate developer: son of a Downstate hog farmer, agriculture major at the University of Illinois, seven-term congressman from a Republican-leaning district south of Chicago.

But over the past five years, Weller has invested heavily in 12 acres of lush hillside overlooking the Pacific surf in southwest Nicaragua – a slice of paradise that advertises fresh seafood "at your door daily" and "year round sunsets". The lots he has bought, sold and subdivided appear to give Weller the most extensive foreign land holdings of any House member.

Weller, though, has not always reported the full extent of his investment – which is required by congressional ethics rules – on his yearly financial disclosure forms. At least twice, he listed much lower sale prices for land on official documents in Nicaragua than he listed on congressional forms.

And he did not publicly disclose the full scope of his investment in 2005, when he helped push the Central America Free Trade Agreement – which provides extra protection to Americans investing in his Nicaraguan development. snip

Weller's status as an American lawmaker was a selling point in at least one transaction, according to David Steinhaus, of Boise, Idaho, who bought two lots from Weller in February 2006 for about $70,000 -- and is now trying to get out of the purchase.

"They were kind of bragging about it," Steinhaus said of the salesmen who pitched him the Weller property. " 'This is being developed by U.S. Congressman Jerry Weller. He's on the Ways and Means Committee. It should be a clean deal."

[izzie]

1. If I recall my history Congressmen once 'helped' out Alaska

and the salmon fishery. 100 years later they are still trying to get the fish back in some rivers. I can guess who made the money on the deal to fish the river dry of fish. One has to love the greed of these men. That they do it with a straight face really makes one wonder. Sometimes I think Will Rogers hit it right.