Rep. Don Young's (R-AK) Ties to Abramoff Found in Mariana Records

[babylonsister]

Billing records expose Young, Abramoff ties
By RICHARD MAUER

Published: April 20th, 2008 12:09 AM
Last Modified: April 20th, 2008 05:55 AM



Rep. Don Young has said he never allowed convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff to be an influential force over him in Congress.

But now a trove of old billing records from two of Abramoff's firms show that his team of lobbyists had more than 120 contacts with Young's personal and committee staffs over 25 months, including at least 10 with Young himself.

The available records cover a single Abramoff client, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific that Young oversaw when he chaired the House Resources Committee from 1995 to 2001.

The records show that one of the looming concerns of Abramoff and his fellow lobbyists at the time was a bill introduced by Young's fellow Alaskan, Sen. Frank Murkowski, to reform labor and immigration practices feeding the island's notorious Chinese-owned sweatshops. In 2000, Murkowski's bill passed the Senate unanimously, but Young stopped it cold in his committee, refusing to hold even a hearing.

Young has denied taking that action or any other as a favor to Abramoff, now in a federal prison.

"Abramoff is, and has been, inconsequential to my work in Congress," Young wrote in 2006 in response to a Daily News editorial linking him to the lobbyist. "I have never had any personal or professional relationship with Abramoff."

more...:popcorn:

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/381253.html

[Renew Deal]

1. I first read that as mariara records

[L. Coyote]

2. Error: You've already recommended that thread. LOL

[zbdent]

3. you misspelled

marijuana ...

:evilgrin:

[roguevalley]

4. this is wonderful. GO, DIANE BENSON!

[L. Coyote]

5. Mark Zachares, former aide to YOUNG, GUILTY to accepting tens of thousands $$$$ $$$ $$$$

Does "labor secretary" in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas mean "slave overseer"?

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Mark Zachares is a former Congressional aide to Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and lobbyist who pleaded guilty to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from lobbyist Jack Abramoff in return for using his position in Congress to advance Abramoff's interests.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zachares

Zachares became acquainted with Jack Abramoff while labor secretary for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas; .... The Anchorage Daily News described their relationship developing in the following way

" Abramoff was the commonwealth’s lobbyist. According to the Saipan Tribune, he was paid at least $11 million from 1994 to 2001 to prevent Congress from interfering with local regulation of wage rates and immigration - the two issues under Zachares’ authority. “Beginning in the mid-1990s, Zachares came to have extensive contact with Abramoff during Zachares’ tenure as an official of the CNMI, and Zachares and Abramoff became personal and professional acquaintances,” the charging document said."

Zachares received $10,000 from Abramoff's false charity, Capital Athletic Foundation in two payments.

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The Corrupt Bastards Club keeps popping up at adn.com

Also, I found this Googling, a nice list of articles:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=don+young+%22neil+volz%22+%22Mark+Zachares%2C%22&btnG=Search

Don Young Under Federal Criminal Investigation
Written by Paul Blumenthal on July 25, 2007 - 9:48am.
http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/taxonomy/term/125?page=3