GOP Whip Blunt Gave Earmarks and Got Campaign Cash Through the ‘Murtha Method’

Rep. Roy Blunt’s Congressional Web site notes that “while Washington politicians claim they can spend your money better than you can, the federal government continues to fritter away billions of your dollars each year in the form of waste, abuse, mismanagement, and in some cases: outright fraud.” Sounds good. And yet in 2007, Blunt, a Missouri Republican, was the lone member of the Congressional leadership to participate in a controversial method of providing earmarks to those represented by former-staffers-turned lobbyists.

Blunt was the Republican whip when Congress passed its 2008 defense appropriations bill, and his actions mirrored the controversial earmarking process used by most members of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

Last month, the Center exposed the circles of influence between members of the subcommittee, their former staffers who have become lobbyists, and the contractors they represent. The pattern, which we call “The Murtha Method,” works like this: the former staffers become lobbyists for firms seeking earmarks; the Representatives secure earmarks for the companies those lobbyists represent, and the contractors and/or the lobbyists send campaign contributions to those members of Congress.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/1708