Corruption in Congress: Which Legislators in Congress are Corrupt?
Government corruption, specifically corruption in congress, is a major contributor to America's economic problems.
Listed below are the current Senators and Representatives investigated thus far for corruption. Over 65% exhibit "ethically challenged" behaviors.
Citizens go to jail for eliciting and taking bribes, for lying under oath, and for failure to pay taxes.
Shouldn't representatives in government should be held to an equal or higher standard of ethics?
Unfortunately, many politicians in Washington are corrupt and self-serving and exempt themselves from "common people" laws.
Since corruption in congress affects voting records, honest and trustworthy behavior in elected officials is imperative to America's success.
Who is "Ethically Challenged" and who is Trustworthy?
If your Representatives are missing, check back - Additions at least weekly (Progress 212/536).
Typically only one breach of trust will be listed; but any politician with one foray into government corruption probably has many.
Senate Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| Senator | |
|---|
| AK - Murkowski | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: According to Wikipedia, Murkowski purchased Kenai River-Front property at around 1/3 value from a Real Estate Developer and AK political donor and then earmarked taxpayer money for a federally funded road to the property. Murkowski sold the property back to the developer when exposed. Citizens for Ethicsalso uncovered suspect loan terms. Murkowski landed an 80%, 39yr loan through a bank with family ties on the Board of Directors (typical land loans given to the public for undeveloped property are closer to 70% and 7 years - at best). |
| AL - Shelby | Payback history: According to Bloomberg report Shelby earmarked $50million of taxpayer funds over 10yrs for COLSA, a company owned by Francisco J Collazo who donated $400,000 to Shelby. According to the Seattle Times, Colsa was certainly not the only example of this behavior. Shelby earmarked $1.6 Million taxpayer dollars for both Sikorsky and Scientific Research Corp in 2008 after receiving $4000 in donations from each. Neither company is even in Alabama. |
| AZ - McCain | No Corruption Found. Two accusations have proven to be false: McCain wrote a letter encouraging the FCC to do it's job and make a decision one way or another regarding a media company purchase. Some accused McCain of corruption for writing the letter since the media company was a campaign donor. Since McCain did not use his position to influence legislation, funnel money or influence a decision, there was no corruption and accusations were agenda based for the 2008 election. McCain had been similarly accused in the famous "Keating Five" scandal, a very similar case where McCain also did not intervene legislatively or pressure for favorable treatment of a campaign donor. The motivation for his inclusion in that accusation was later exposed to be attributed to Howell Heflin (D - AL) who didn't want only Democrats under fire for the scandal even though only Democrats were involved. |
| AR - Lincoln | Paybacks: The Seattle Times reports $1.6 Million in 2008 taxpayer financed earmarks by Lincoln for $7500 campaign contributor Exoxemis. |
| *AR - Pryor | Paybacks: Pryor not only participated in payback schemes but forced inferior products on our military personnel in the process. Pryor joined several other corrupt lawmakers in forcing the military through earmarking (Legistorm) to spend $5.6 Million of their approved defense funds on inferior decontamination powder. Why? The manufacturer, Rohm and Haas paid $1000 to Pryor's campaign (Congress.org). See the Seattle Times for the story. |
| CA - Boxer | Payback history: According to the Seattle Times, in 2008 Boxer helped funnel $2.4 Million dollars of taxpayer money to the city/county of SanFrancisco - an excellent return on their $1000 campaign donation investment in her. Boxer similarly granted $2.4 Million to Innovative Micro Technologys in 2008 who also donated $1000 to her campaign fund. |
| *CA - Feinstein | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: According to the Washington Times, While the FDIC was considering contract awards, Feinstein offered to secure money for the FDIC in their efforts to stem foreclosure. Days later, the FDIC awarded her husband's company the lucrative contract to sell foreclosed properties. After the contract award, Feinstein honored her promise and introduced legislation to give FDIC $25Billion of taxpayer money. |
| CT - Dodd (Ret) | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: Accepted special loan treatment amounting to over $75,000 by Countrywide plus $21,000 in donations. Dodd legislation then protected Countrywide's risky lending practices and provided the company Bailout money. Also, according to The Wall Street Journal, received an estimated gift of at least $500,000 in the form of 2/3 stake in Irish Cottage. Why?... probably related to securing Presidential pardon for felon who was also a personal friend of Dodd's and friend/business partner of the "seller". |
| CO - Bennet | No Government Corruption Found |
| DE - Kaufman | No Government Corruption Found |
| GA - Isakson | Paybacks: Isakson exhibits a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmark money. According to the Seattle Times, Isakson rewarded Northrop Grumman with $4 Million in 2008 after receiving $7000 and rewarded Scientific Research Corp with $1.6 Million after receiving $2900 in donations. |
| HI - Inouye | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: According to Hawaii Free PressInouye; secured a $135 million taxpayer financed bailout after intervening on behalf of a poorly managed, non-qualifying bank. Why? Inouye has most of his net worth invested in that bank. |
| ID - Crapo | No Government Corruption Found |
| *IL - Durbin | Paybacks and Utilizing Public Office for Personal Gain: Repetitive earmarking for campaign donors according to the Seattle Times. Two of many include Gentex and Epir Technologies who both received $1.6 Million in taxpayer money through Durbin 2008 earmarking. Excellent returns for campaign donations of $2000 and $2700 respectively. Also, according to the Washington Times, Dick Durbin sold off $42,696 of mutual fund shares on Sept 19 2008, immediately after a confidential briefing and legislative directive pertaining to the impending financial crisis and banking bailouts. By the end of the month and before the October market collapse, he had sold off $115,696. |
| IN - Bayh | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, in 2008 Bayh earmarked $800,000 of taxpayer money for General Atomic Technologies a $1000 campaign donor and also funneled $800,000 to Briartek after recieving $2500 in donations. |
| IA - Grassley | Paybacks: Seattle Times reports Chuck Grassley taxpayer funded earmarks in 2008 to Rockwell Collins totalling $19.2 Million after receipt of $2750 in donations and $1.65 Million to West Central Co-op whose execs offered up $3000 in donations. |
| *LA - Landrieu | Paybacks: According to Wikipedia, Voyager Learning held a $30,000 fundraiser for Landrieu, then benefited from a Landrieu $2,000,000 earmark days later. |
| LA - Vitter | Paybacks: Rewards for companies making campaign donations included $2.8 Million taxpayer dollars earmarked in 2008 for Textron after receipt of $9000 in donations and $1.6 Milion earmarked for Stratus after receipt of a $500 donation. Seattle Times. Vitter is also one of many politicians who have been exposed to be involved in prostitution rings. His involvement was in the 1999-2001 time frame according to Wikipedia. As with most of those caught in similar circumstances, Vitter humiliated his wife by having her stand with him as he made his statements. |
| *MD - Mikulski | Paybacks: According to The Baltimore Sun, Mikulski earmarked $4 Million in taxpayer funds for Northrop Grumman and $2.5 Million for L-3 Communications Corp whose, PACs donated $6000 and $4500 respectively for the 2008 cycle. (Campaignmoney.com). |
| *MT - Baucus | Misuse of Elected Office: According to The Associated Press and ABC News, Baucus used his position to attempt to secure a US Attorney appointment for his girlfriend and former staff employee. |
| NV - Reid | Paybacks/kickbacks: According to the Washington Post, Reid accepted ringside boxing tickets three times while related legislation was under consideration. He also accepted money from Indian tribe clients of convicted lobbyist Abramoff and his partners then wrote letters supporting the clients, worked on legislation on behalf of the clients or granted personal audiences for the client legislative action pitches. According to Captains Quarters, Reid helped arrange through legislation for the relocation of federal power-line right of way and the lifting of environmental protective building restrictions on land owned by a generous campaign contributor in order to clear the way for development. |
| *NJ - Menendez | No Corruption Found. Is under investigation for obtaining federal funding for a community organization renting office space from him. However, the organization appears to be legally eligible for the money so Menendez' involvement appears to be reasonable assistance to constituents. |
| NY - Gillibrand | Votes for Sale: According to The Albany Project, Gillibrand received Acorn's endorsement for her re-election, stating "I am honored to have the endorsement of ACORN and proud to partner with them on an agenda...". She then delivered payment for the endorsement by voting to funnel taxpayer money into ACORN even after the videos surfaced showing a pattern of illegal, immoral, anti-American activity within the ACORN organization. |
| NY - Schumer | History of paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Schumer directed $1.6 Million in taxpayer money to L-3 Communications who donated $12,500 to Schumer and $1.6 Million in taxpayer money to "New School for Social Research" who donated $4000 to Schumer. Long list of paybacks in referenced source. |
| NC - Burr | Paybacks: History of rewarding campaign contributers with taxpayer funded earmark gifts. According to Seattle Times, in 2008 Burr earmarked $4.5 Million for General Dynamics after receiving $10,000 in contributions and earmarked $2 Million for E.I.DuPont DeNamours after receipt of $5000. |
| ND - Dorgan (Ret) | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Dorgan rewarded Novadigm Therapeutics Inc (not even in ND) with $2 Million in taxpayer funds in 2008 after $2300 in campaign donations from the company. In 2007, Dorgan boasts on his own site about securing $8 Million in taxpayer funds for a former staffer's family company KMM. |
| *ND - Conrad | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: According to Portfolio.com, Conrad accepted special loan treatment amounting to $10,700 by Countrywide before their implosion. Repaid gift when exposed. |
| OK - Coburn | No Corrupt Practices Found |
| OR - Wyden | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, in 2008 Wyden funneled $2.4 Million in taxpayer dollars through earmarks to both Lektro (who donated $2000 to Wyden) and Oregon Iron Works (who donated $8500 to Wyden). |
| PA - Specter | Paybacks: Spector not only participated in payback schemes but forced inferior products on our military personnel in the process according to the Seattle Times. Specter joined New York Senators Schumer and Clinton in forcing the military through earmarking to spend $7.6 Million on inferior decontamination powder. Why? $47,000 in campaign donations may have been a strong motivator for Specter. |
| *SC - Graham | Paybacks: Legistorm, reports a 2008 Graham earmark of $800,000 taxpayer funds for Timken whose corporate PAC contributed $10,000 to Graham's election campaign per Center for Responsive Politics. Also, according to the Seattle Times, Graham used earmarks to funnel $3 Million in taxpayer funds to Genphar (after receiving $28,770 in campaign donations) and $1.6 Million to Scientific Research (after receiving $21,000 in donations). |
| SC - DeMint | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| SD - Thune | Paybacks: The Seattle Times uncovered a 2008 $4.64 Million earmark for Aerostar Technologies which cross references with $4000 in campaign donations from Ravin Industries (same company) CEO. Thunes FY2010 earmark disclosures itemized taxpayer funded earmarks for General Atomics $3 Million, Northrop Grumman $2 Million and Boeing $2 Million. Those companies donated $2400, $34,500 and $10,000 respectively to Thune's re-election campaign. (Ref: opensecrets.com) |
| UT - Bennett | Paybacks: Bennett, like many of his colleagues, uses his power to reward campaign donors with taxpayer money. The Seattle Times, Bennet rewarded $3000 campaign donor Brush Wellman Inc (an Ohio company) with a $10.7 Million 2008 earmark. He funneled another $10 Million through a 2008 earmark to Alliant Techsystems Inc after receiving $8000 in donations. |
| VT - Leahy | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Leahy funneled $10 Million in taxpayer money to General Dynamics and $1.6 Million to Goodrich through earmarks in 2008. Coincidently, both were big campaign contributors - Goodrich was good for $7500 and General Dynamics ponied up $18200 for Leahy. |
| *WA - Cantwell | Paybacks and kickbacks: Cantwell has a long history of earmarking taxpayer funds for campaign contributers. Unfortunately, she does not care if the earmarked products even work as in the case of earmarks for Microvision. Microvision is a Washington company that made inferior helmet dispays which failed to ID between friendly and enemy troops in battle, had blind spots, and were finally left unopened in their boxes in the battle zone as "junk". (See Seattle Times Report). The company survived on earmarking from corrupt regional politicians ($55 Million was their "take" as of 2007). Cantwell continues to waste taxpayer money on her contributor, earmarking another $800,000 in 2008 for Microvision after reciept of $16,100 in campaign funds. Also on her long list of paybacks are Mobilisa $1.6 Million after $8300 in donations and Coastal Environmental systems $4 Million after $4000 in donations. (Ref: Seattle Times Favor Factory) |
| WA - Murray | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Murray funneled $6 Million in taxpayer money to Dimension4 who donated $4550 to her campaign and $4 Million in taxpayer money to Andrews Space, Inc who donated $1000 to her campaign. Long list of paybacks itemized in the referenced source for 2008 although this history obviously extends to other years as well. |
| WI - Feingold | No Corrupt Practices Found |
Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| American Samoa | |
|---|
| Faleomavaega | Expense Account Abuse: According to the Wall Street Journal, Faleomavaega purchased 2 televisions for himself for $1473 each at taxpayer expense. |
Alabama Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| AL | |
|---|
| Aderholt - 4 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, in 2008 Aderholt earmarked $6.2 Million taxpayer dollars for Miltec, a $11,950 donator to his campaigns and $2.4 Million to Summa, a $7542 donator. |
| Bachus - 6 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Bonner - 1 | Paybacks: Seattle Times favor factory investigation reports a $3 Million 2008 earmark by Bonner for Radiance Technologies after reciept of $11,750 in campaign donations. |
| Bright, B - 2 | Paybacks: Bright earmarked a $10 Million reward for Lockheed Martin after receiving $9000 in campaign donations. Reference washingtonwatch.com and Center for Responsive Politics |
| Davis, Artur - 7 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Griffith, P - 5 | Paybacks: Griffith earmarked a $4 Million reward for SPARTA (TOHAS) after receiving $10000 in campaign donations. Reference Griffith earmark disclosures and Center for Responsive Politics |
| Rogers, Mike - 3 | Paybacks: Seattle Times Favor Factory uncovered payback history including $1 Million taxpayer earmark for Goodrich after receipt of $1000 in campaign donations and $2 Million earmark for Arotech after $12500 in campaign donations. |
Alaska Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| AK | |
|---|
| Young, Donald | Paybacks: According to Wikipedia, Young earmarked $10 Million of taxpayer money for a Florida interstate interchange after the owner of the land raised $40,000 for Young's campaign. |
Arizona Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| AZ | |
|---|
| Flake - 6 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Franks, Trent - 2 | Paybacks: Seattle Times Favor Factory uncovered history of using taxpayer money to reward campaign contributors. In 2008 Franks earmarked $3.2 Million for Advanced Ceramics Research Inc, a $5000 donator to Franks. However, in 2009, Franks increased his generosity with our money to $15 Million for Advanced Ceramicsaccording to own disclosures. Other cozy paybacks in 2009 included: General Dynamics $9.7 Million after $21,500 receipt since 2002 (Center for Responsive Policies), Robertson Aviation $10 Million after $14,650 in campaign receipts since 2002, and Raytheon $91.9 Million after $24,000 in receipts. |
| Giffords - 8 | Paybacks: Seattle Times Favor Factory uncovered Giffords' history of using taxpayer money to reward campaign contributors. Giffords earmarked $4 Million for Advanced Ceramics Research Inc after receiving $750 from the company. The CEO donator has a clear history of working these paybacks by donating across party lines, focusing on earmarking politicians, and including David Obey who heads the Appropriations Committee for earmark approval. (See Seattle Times Research) |
| Grijalva - 7 | Paybacks: Seattle Times Favor Factory uncovered history of using taxpayer money to reward campaign contributors. Grijalva earmarked $1.6 Million for Ventana Research Corp after receipt of $1000 in campaign donations and $1.2 Million for Advanced Ceramics Research Inc, a $6500 donator to Grijalva. |
| Kirkpatrick - 1 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Mitchell, HarryE - 5 | Paybacks: Rewards for campaign contributors. According to The Seattle Times, Mitchell funneled $1.6 Million taxpayer dollars to BAE subsidiary Simula Aerospace after receipt of $2100 in campaign donations. |
| Pastor - 4 | Paybacks. According to Legistorm, Pastor earmarked $3.6 Million of taxpayer funds for Honeywell whose PAC donated $10000 to Pastor's campaign. Center for Responsive Politics |
| Shadegg - 3 | No Government Corruption Found |
Arkansas Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| AR | |
|---|
| Berry, Marion - 1 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Berry funneled 1.6 Million through earmarking of taxpayer money to Exoxemis after company officials gave him $6500 for his re-election campaign. |
| Boozman - 3 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Ross, Mike - 4 | Use of seat for personal gain: According to Politico, Mike Ross sold property to USA pharmacy chain at an inflated price ($160,000 - $220,000 higher than pre-purchase and independent appraisals), accepted the max allowed $2300 campaign donation, then proceeded to force changes to the healthcare bill in committee to protect US pharmacy chain interests. |
| Snyder, Vic - 2 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
California Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| CA | |
|---|
| Baca - 43 | Pay to play: Big dollar earmarks for companies making
campaign donations. Baca had taxpayers give
TELACU $2,000,000. According to
Wikipedia, Baca, as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, directed funds to campaigns of his sons as well as forced his taxpayer paid staff to campaign for son in CA. |
| Becerra - 31 | Use of Elected Office for Financial Gain/Payoffs: According to the LA Times, Becerra accepted campaign contributions from Horacio Carlos Vignali, then began lobbying for and facilitated securing a Clinton Presidential Commutation to release the man's convicted, imprisoned, cocaine trafficing, son. According to citypaper, the donations which resulted in the lobbying totaled over $14,000. |
| Berman - 28 | Expense account abuse for political gain? According to the Wall Street Journal, Berman spent $84,000 of hard-earned taxpayer money on personalized calendars printed by the US Capital Historical Society. Realtors typically send this sort of item out as advertising... Clearly, Berman liked their idea. He would be, literally, visible on a useful item placed on the refrigerator, seen daily, all year to remind his constituents to vote for him! (All at taxpayer expense) |
| Bilbray - 50 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Bono Mack - 45 | Paybacks: Rewards in the form of taxpayer financed earmarks for campaign donators. Seattle Times lists 2008 earmark of $2.8 Million for Massachusetts company Surmet Corp after repeipt of $3000 in donations. |
| Calvert - 44 | Use of seat for personal gain: Ken Calvert is arguably one of the most deserving recipients of Crew's most Corrupt designation. The majority of his transgressions involve earmarking for profit. In 2005 Calvert earmarked $9.5 Million for road improvements and development near a land parcel he had just purchased. Immediately after his earmark cleared, he sold the property at a 79% $435,000 profit. In another instance, Calvert profited indirectly by earmarking then having his firm collect Real Estate commision on another purchase-earmark-flip sale which reaped a 49% $475,000 profit for the investors immediately after the earmark. Long list of this type of corruption on CREW site, as well as information in the FBI investigation into Calvert's activities. |
| Campbell, John - 48 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Capps - 23 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times Favor Factory Investigation, Capps has a history of rewarding donors with taxpayer funded earmarks. In 2008 she funneled $2.4 Million to Innovative Micro Technology after receipt of $4000, $1.6 Million to Textron after receipt of $4000, and $950,000 to D.C company Green Hills Software after receipt of $1000. |
| Cardoza - 18 | No Corruption in Congress found |
| Chu - 32 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Costa - 20 | Paybacks: Ref Seattle Times. In 2008 Jim Costa funneled $1.6 Million of taxpayer money through earmarking to Quinetiq subsidiary Ocean Systems Engineering Corp. after receipt of $2000 in campaign donations. |
| Davis, Susan - 53 | Paybacks: According to Seattle Times.Susan Davis earmarked $5.5 Million from taxpayers to campaign donor General Atomics after receipt of $10,500 in campaing donations. She similarly funneled $1.2 Million to Saic after receipt of $18,300. |
| Dreier - 26 | Paybacks: Dreier apparently limited his 2008 military funding earmarks strictly to only for campaign donors according to itemization in The Seattle Times Favor Factory. David Dreier funneled $3 Million to Gentex Corp after receipt of $14,700, $1.6 Million to Tanner Research Corp after receipt of $6,700, $1.6 Million to Chang Industry Inc after receipt of $19,650, and $1.2 Million to Advanced Projects Research after $19,800 in donations. |
| Eshoo - 14 | Paybacks - legislative and financial: Anna Eshoo is responsible for an Amendment in the new HealthCare Bill that allows pharmaceutical companies to extend patent monopolies, protecting exorbitant prices for biologic medications. Although Eshoo denies this, medical, legal, and Federal Trade Commision experts have analyzed the Amendment and explained the ramifications. Why would Eshoo deliberately protect high drug prices? Follow the money at OpenSecrets.com. Eshoo received $21,500 from Johnson & Johnson, $8500 from Merck, $8500 from Allergan... See reference for the entire extensive list. According to the Seattle Times Favor Factory, Eshoo funneled $3.2 Million to KLA-Tencor after the company gave her $3250 and earmarked $2.4 Million to Cellerant therapeutics after $2000 in campaign donations. |
| Farr - 17 | Paybacks: Ref Seattle Times. In 2008 Sam Farr funneled $800,000 of taxpayer money through earmarking to Lone Star Investment Advisors subsidiary Safety Storage Inc after receipt of $3500 in campaign donations. |
| Filner - 51 | Misuse of campaign funds and Paybacks: Apparently, even when his ethical deficiencies are explained to him, Filner is incapable of recognizing any problems in himself. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on two such incidences. First, misuse of campaign funds: Filner funneled $550,000 into his own pocket by paying his wife to work on his campaign. Second, paybacks: Filner arranged a lucrative taxpayer financed water treatment project for Bajagua after receipt of $66,000 in campaign donations. He defended the taxpayer money transfer by saying that "Bajagua was the only company capable of doing the job" knowing that the company was not capable and later professing that Bajagua would have to subcontract out over 90% of the job. |
| Gallegly - 24 | Paybacks: Gallegly has a history of rewarding campaign contributers with taxpayer financed earmarks. In 2008, he funneled $1.2 Million to Microwave Monolithics after receipt of $5050 in campaign donations. Ref Seattle Times. |
| Garamendi - 10 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Harman - 36 | Use of office for personal gain: According to the New York Times and CQ Politics, Harmon was involved in a bribery scandal in which she agreed to intercede to secure leniency for two AIPAC lobbyists in the government espionage investigation against them. In exchange, the lobbyists agreed to help Harman secure the intelligence committee chairmanship for herself. The story broke in 2009 but the events were recorded on wiretap in 2005. CQ reports that Attorney General Gonzales "intervened to stop the Harman probe because the administration wanted Harman to be able to defend the warrantless wiretapping program the New York Times was about to disclose". Jane Harman also participated in pay to play schemes for campaign donations. Seattle Times research shows a 2008 earmark for Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc after receipt of $22,215 in donations and a $1 Million earmark for Applied Signal Technology Inc after receipt of $2800. |
| Herger - 2 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Honda - 15 | Paybacks: Mike Honda has a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer money. The Seattle Times Favor Factory reports defense earmarking in 2008 of $3.2 Million for KLA-Tencor Corp immediately after receipt of $500, $2.4 Million for Agilent Technologies aftr receipt of $2750, and $1.6 Million for Becton Dickson and Co after receipt of $2000. Honda is on the short list of those notorious congressmen whose military funding earmarking to companies is limited specifically and solely to those companies who have donated to his campaign. |
| Hunter - 52 | Paybacks: Duncan Hunter has adopted a practice of rewarding donors with taxpayer money. According to his own earmark disclosures, Hunter's FY2010 requests include $26 Million for General Atomic Aeronatical Systems after Duncan received $25,700 in campaign donations (ref: Center for Responsive Politics). He simillarly earmarked $3 Million for TREX Enterprises after recept of $9350 in donations. |
| Issa - 49 | Paybacks: According to Seattle Times.Darrell Issa earmarked $1.4 Million from taxpayers to campaign donor Vertigo Inc after receipt of $2,000 in campaing donations. |
| Lee. Barbara - 9 | Paybacks: According to The Seattle Times, Barbara Lee rewarded Ployplus Battery Co with one $800,000 taxpayer financed earmark and another $3,485,000 earmark (ref: omb.gov) in the 2008 cycle after donation receipt of $1800. Unfortunately for the army, they did not request these funds which meant that the Pentagon was forced to divert money from defense department desired projects over to Barbara Lee's pet project. |
| Lewis,Jerry - 41 | Paybacks: According to FreeRepublic.com, Lewis is heavily involved in the PMA payback scandal. In 2007 he earmarked $8 Million for PMA clients after receipt of PMA lobbying donation money of $34,649. Also, the Seattle Times Favor Factory Investigation uncovered numerous instances of earmarking for campaign donors. Two of these include $4.8 Million for Northrop Grumman after receipt of $28,350 in campaign funds and $4 Million taxpayer earmark for L-3 communications Holdings Inc after receipt of $50,500. |
| Lofgren - 16 | Paybacks: Lofgren demonstrates a history of rewarding campaign contributors with taxpayer financed earmarks. She funneled $3.2 Million to KLA-Tencor Corp after receipt of $5450 and $4 Million to Agilent Technologies Inc after receipt of $900. (Ref: Seattle Times Favor Factory) |
| Lungren - 3 | Paybacks: Taxpayer financed rewards for campaign donors... In 2008 Dan Lungren earmarked $2 Million for Technikon, a $5100 donator and $4 Million for the Federal Technology Center whose executives donated $3300 in 12 regular (reminding) increments. (ref: Seattle Times) |
| McKeon - 25 | Paybacks: According to Seattle Times. In 2008 Buck McKeon earmarked $4 Million from taxpayers to campaign donor General Atomic Technologies after receipt of $28,000 and $2.8 Million to campaign donor Curtiss-Wright Corp after receipt of $9500. |
| Matsui - 5 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| McCarthy, Kevin - 22 | Paybacks: McCarthy earmark payback to campaign contributor Aerojet, a subsidiary of Gencorp, was $1.2 Million immediately after receipt of a $1000 donation from company PAC. (Ref: Seattle Times Favor Factory) |
| McClintock - 4 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| McNerney - 11 | Pay to play: Jerry McNerney apparently limited his corporate 2008 military funding earmarks strictly to only those companies that were campaign donors according to itemization in Seattle Times. McNerney rewarded Onyx Optics with $1.6 Million after receipt of $5500, COU Technology with $1.6 Million after receipt of $5000, and EDO Corp with $800,000 after receipt of $9500. |
| Miller, Gary | Improper use of Congressional staff, Abuse of power, Tax evasion: According to the LA Times, Miller repeatedly instructed his federally paid staff to work on tasks related to his personal life and personal business dealings. Miller also used his position to apply pressure for and to secure special treatment for entertainment tickets, land sales, and federally funded road improvements around personal property holdings. Finally, according to Sourcewatch, Miller claimed forced/eminent domain sale of property for $12 million ($10 million profit) to avoid paying tax on the profit. This was the same property he had used the power of his position and influence to lobby and pressure council members into purchasing. This action has triggered an FBI investigation. |
| Miller, George - 7 | Paybacks: George Miller annually funnels taxpayer money into Securimetrics, a company whose financial support for Miller has totalled $16,090 according to the Contra Costa Times. Also, Legistorm reports that George Miller was the solo earmarker responsible for funneling $4 Million of taxpayer money to Micro Assembly Technologies, after the company president donated $1000 to his campaign. (CampaignMoney.com) |
| Napolitano - 38 | Misuse of campaign donations, Paybacks: Napolitano paid herself $221,780 out of campaign donations according to Bloomberg. She labeled the payments as interest (up to 18% annual rate) on a $150,000 loan to her campaign fund. Congress has legislated that they are bequeathed with the special right to avoid the risks and losses ordinary people face in the stock market by "investing" in their own campaign funds and setting whatever interest rate (profit) they choose. Napolitano also has a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmarks. She funneled $1 Million in a 2008 earmark to Goodrich after receipt of 4 "reminders" from Goodrich PAC totaling $4000. |
| Nunes - 21 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Pelosi - 8 | Misuse of Public Funds, Paybacks: Although abuse of military aircraft transportation has long been an issue with Pelosi, World Net Daily exposed additional, related Pelosi corruption through data obtained by Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act. In addition to using military aircraft to shuttle family members on various trips, Nancy Pelosi spent $101,000 over a 2 year period on in-flight liquor and food services for herself and her family and friends accompanying her on board. According to the Seattle Times, Pelosi funneled $2 Million taxpayer dollars through earmarks in 2008 to Sierra Nevada after the company donated $1000 to Pelosi. |
| Radanovich - 19 | Paybacks: According to Seattle Times. In 2008 George Radanovich earmarked $1 Million from taxpayers to campaign donor Landtec after receipt of $3000 in campaign donations. |
| Richardson, L - 37 | Irresponsible and corrupt? According to Citizens For Ethics, after failing to make payments on multiple loans for extended periods and failing to pay property taxes, Richardson somehow managed to land a mortgage when an ordinary American with such a history would be locked out of credit for years. |
| Rohrabacher - 46 | No Corruption Found, Rohrabacher's personal earmark disclosures list almost $13 Billion for $27,250 campaign donator Boeing. (opensecrets.org). However, these outrageous earmarks appear to be an attempt to bypass possible Obama administration funding cuts to the F22 program rather than payback type earmarks. |
| Roybal-Allard - 34 | Pay to play: Big dollar earmarks for companies making campaign donations. Some of the taxpayer dollars earmarked (single year) for donors by Roybal-Allard include
$3,200,000 for Ni Industries, $268,000 Altamed, and $2,000,000 TELACU. Corresponding donations for that year: $4275 Ni Industries, $3550 Altamed, and $13500 TELACU (Ref Center for Responsive Politics) |
| Royce - 40 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Sanchez, Linda - 39 | Misuse of Federal Congressional Budget Funds: According to the Washington Post, Linda Sanchez paid 3 of her sister Loretta's staff members from her district's federal budget funds when Loretta's office was short on funds. |
| Sanchez, Loretta - 47 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Sanchez earmarked $800,000 of taxpayer dollars for Irvine Sensors after the company president gave her $3800 for her campaign. She similarly funneled $1.6 Million through 2008 earmarks to Digibeam Corp after receipt of $3800, $4.8 Million to L-3 Communications Holdings after receipt of $25,100, and $1.6 Million to Integrated Data after receipt of $12,650. |
| Schiff - 29 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Schiff earmarked $800,000 of taxpayer dollars for Orbits Lightwave Inc after receipt of $500 donation. |
| Sherman - 27 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Brad Sherman earmarked $3.2 Million taxpayer dollars for Panavision, a subsidiary of MaxAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc, after receipt of $16,400 in donations. |
| Speier - 12 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Stark - 13 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Thompson - 1 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Mike Thompson earmarked $1 Million taxpayer dollars for L-3 Communications after receipt of $3860 in donations. |
| Waters, Maxine - 35 | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: According to NY Times, Waters set up special meetings to faciliate bailout funds for small bank. Why? Maxine Waters' husband had invested $250,000 in the bank. |
| Watson, Diane - 33 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Waxman - 30 | Vote buying: According to the Washington Examiner, Waxman worked out trade deals on his cap and trade bill, offering emissions credits for certain Congressmen's districts in exchange for their votes. |
| Woolsey - 6 | Abuse of Power: Woolsey used her position as a Congresswoman to pressure a judge for leniency in a violent rape case. Why? The confessed rapist, Steward Pearson, was the son of one of her congressional aides. (Ref: WorldNetDaily) |
Colorado Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| CO | |
|---|
| Coffman, Mike - 6 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| DeGette - 1 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Lamborn - 5 | Paybacks: Taxpayer financed rewards for campaign contributing companies. According to the 2008 Seattle Times investigation, Douglas Lamborn earmarked $800,000 for Sturman Industries after receipt of $1250 and $1 Million for Lockheed Martin after receipt of $2000. |
| Markey - 4 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Perlmutter - 7 | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: Ed Perlmutter wrote and inserted legislation into the cap and trade bill that would increase business and provide federal funding for projects involving "green" banks that specialize in loans for environmentally friendly construction and upgrading. The problem: Perlmutter added this legislation after establishing personal financial interest in a bank that would benefit. His ex-wife and a $6000+ campaign donor were involved in starting up the bank that "calls itself the nation's first green bank" and he and his family have money invested in it. They all stand to profit personally from the amendment "added at the last minute to the Waxman-Markey energy bill". (Ref The Washington Times) |
| Polis - 2 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Salazar - 3 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
Connecticut Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| CT | |
|---|
| Courtney - 2 | Paybacks: The Seattle Times Favor Factory shows connections between campaign donations and earmarks. In 2008, Courtney earmarked $5 Million for General Dynamics and Northrup Grumman after receipt of $19,150 and $3000 respectively. General Dynamics apparently responded acceptably to Courtney's generosity with taxpayer money by ponying up a total of $40,700 through 2/10 because the company was rewarded with a FY 2010 earmark total of $18.8 Million. UTC benefited handsomely from $16,500 of donations with a FY 2010 Courtney earmark total of $11 Million. Reference for earmarks Courtney disclosures and reference for donations Center for Responsive Politics. |
| DeLauro - 3 | Paybacks: DeLauro apparently participates in the practice of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmarks. Seattle Times reports DeLauro 2008 earmarks of $2.4 Million to $1250 donor Precision Combustion and $3 Million to Invitrogen, a company that donated $10,000 in the 2008 cycle according to opensecrets.org. |
| Larson, JohnB - 1 | Paybacks/Pay to Play: According to the Seattle TImes Favor Factory Investigation for 2008, Larson was 100% paybacks on his defense earmarking. Only donors got money: UTC $5.2 Million (donation $38000), Goodrich $3 Million (donation $8000), Fuel Cell Engergy $1.6 Million (donation $8000), Aero Gear $1 Million (donation $500 - excellent investment!), and Kaman $2 Million (donation $10,300). |
| Murphy, C - 5 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Chris Murphy has a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer money. He earmarked $1.6 Million taxpayer dollars for Goodrich after receipt of $2000 in donations, $4 Million for Ensign-bickford Industries after receipt of $1750, $3.2 Million for UTC after receipt of $2750, and $2 Million for Electro Energy after receipt of $500. |
| Himes - 4 | No corruption in congress found |
Delaware Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| DE | |
|---|
| Castle | Paybacks: The Seattle Times Favor Factory shows connections between campaign donations and earmarks. In 2008, Castle earmarked $2.4 Million for Quantum Leap Innovations after receipt of $1000, $1.6 Million for EI DuPont DeNemours & Co after receipt of $15000, and $2 Million for Patrick Power Products (not even in Delaware) after receipt of $4500 in donations. |
Florida Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| FL | |
|---|
| Bilirakis - 9 | Paybacks: Gus Bilirakis demonstrates a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer funds. According to the Seattle Times, Bilirakis earmarked $950,000 in 2008 for Green Hills software after receipt of $1000, and $2.4 Million for Vloc Inc after receipt of $7200. |
| Boyd, Allen - 2 | Paybacks: Rewards for campaign donors... The Seattle Times Favor Factory shows connections between campaign donations and earmarks. In 2008, Boyd earmarked $8.6 Million for General Dynamics after receipt of $25,500. $1 Million of that also benefits $1250 campaign donor Boeing. |
| Brown, Corrine - 3 | Paybacks: An official ethics complaint had to be filed against Corrine Brown by Congressional Accountability Project after the St. Petersburg Times uncovered a $50000 Lexus "gifted" to her daughter by Foutanga Sissoko after Brown lobbied Janet Reno and fellow members of Congress to secure release of Sissoko who was being held on charges of bribing a Customs officer. Brown also has a history of using taxpayer financed earmarks to support her daughter's employer, lobbying group AlCalde & Faye (CitizensforEthics.org). According to the Seattle Times, Brown earmarked $1.6 Million for her daughter's client Community Rehabilitation Center in 2008. Legistorm also uncovered a $307,000 2008 and a $285,000 2009 earmark for the Center by Brown. |
| Brown-Waite - 5 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Buchanan - 13 | No Definite Corruption Found. Possible campaign finance violations - Buchanan is on CREW"S most corrupt list for accusations of pressuring and reimbursing employees for campaign contributions. Thus far all accusations have come from disgruntled former employees, some of whom apparently attempted blackmail through lawsuit settlements. (Herald Tribune, St Petersburg Times) |
| Crenshaw - 4 | Paybacks: Crenshaw displays a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmarks. According to the Seattle Times, Ander Crenshaw earmarked $1.8 Million in 2008 for BAE after receipt of $24,500 and $1 Million for Goodrich after receipt of $6500. |
| Castor - 11 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Kathy Castor earmarked $6 Million in 2008 for H Lee Moffit Cancer Center after receipt of $1000 in 4 spaced increments from executives. |
| Diaz-Balart, L - 21 | Paybacks: Lincoln Diaz-Balart appears to have a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer money through earmarking. According to a Miami-Herald writer's anti-Diaz-Balart blogsite, Lincoln earmarked $9.2 Million for Locust after receiving thousands in campaign donations from Locust executives. |
| Diaz-Balart, M - 25 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Hastings, Alcee - 23 | Expense Account Abuse? According to the Wall Street Journal Hastings leased a luxury Lexus in 2008, using $24,730 of hard-earned taxpayer money while many of his constituents don't even earn that amount in a year. |
| Grayson - 8 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Klein, R - 22 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Kosmas - 24 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Mack, Connie - 14 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Meek - 17 | Use of office for personal gain / paybacks: The Miami Herald reported on a payoff scandal involving Meek, his mother, and Boston developer, Dennis Stackhouse. Shortly after the developer paid Meek's mother $40,000 in consulting fees, provided her with a leased Lexus, and gave her free office space, Meek secured $72,750 for Stackhouse's Poinciana Biopharmaceutical Park Development, $1 Million to train workers for the (non-existent) park and requested another $4 Million in earmarks for the development. |
| Mica - 7 | Paybacks: Mica demonstrates a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmarks. According to the Seattle Times, in 2008 Mica earmarked $1.6 Million for Engineering and Computer Simulations Inc after receipt of $500 and $1.6 Million for Ocean Design Inc, a Teledyne Technologies subsidiary, after receipt of $1250 in donations. |
| Miller, Jeff - 1 | Paybacks: Jeff Miller demonstrates a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmarks. According to the Seattle Times, in 2008 Miller earmarked $2.2 Million for General Dynamics after receipt of $16,000 in campaign donations and $1.6 Million for General Atomics after receipt of $12,000 in donations. |
| Posey - 15 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Putnam - 12 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Rooney - 16 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Ros-Lehtinen - 18 | Paybacks: The Seattle Times reports a 2008 connection between campaign contributions and earmarking. Ros-Lehtinen earmarked $2.4 Million in taxpayer money for Stidd Systems Inc in NY after receipt of $11,700 in donations. |
| Stearns - 6 | Paybacks: Stearns received $2800 in campaign donations in the 2010 cycle from Nanotherapeutics (Citizens for Responsive Politics) and, according to his own disclosures, Stearns earmarked for $996,000 in taxpayer funds for Nanotherapeutics in his FY2010 requests. |
| Wasserman Schultz - 20 | Paybacks: According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Wasserman Schultz slipped in a General Dynamics $4.5 Million earmark for a radio project with "significant performance problems" that the Pentagon does not want. Why? General Dynamics began contributing to her PAC ($19000!). CREW also reports connections between other Wasserman Schultz earmarks and personal friends. |
| Young, CW Bill - 10 | Paybacks: Prolific history of rewarding campaign contributors with taxpayer financed earmarks. The quantity is tremendous but only a couple will be listed here from the Seattle Times Favor Factory Investigations. You earmarked $1 Million for SRI after receipt of $5450, $1 Million for Orion Networking after receipt of 3 regularly spaced donations totaling $750, and $2.4 Million for Conax, a Cobham Management Services subsidiary, after receipt of $500 |
Georgia Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| GA | |
|---|
| Barrow - 12 | Paybacks: John Barrow reports a taxpayer financed FY 2010 earmark request for GulfStream (a subsidiary of General Dynamics) of $70 Million. Follow the money trail to find $27,000 in campaign donations to Barrow through to General Dynamics (Ref: OpenSecrets.org) |
| Bishop Jr. - 2 | Paybacks: Sanford Bishop demonstrates a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmarks. According to the Seattle Times, in 2008 Bishop earmarked $2.4 Million for Steris Corp after receipt of $2000 in campaign donations, $1.6 Million for Polytech Ammunition Company after receipt of $9500, and $800,000 for Amethyst Technologies after receipt of $4500 in campaign donations. |
| Broun - 10 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Gingrey - 11 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Gingrey funneled large sums of money to campaign donors through earmarking. Northrop Grumman recieved $3.2 Million, Scientific Research Corp recieved $2 Million, and Cryolife received $2 Million. |
| Johnson, Henry - 4 | No Corruption in Congress Found. However, prior to Johnson's 2007 entry into Congress, he was apparently involved in several ethics scandals involving payoffs, and tax evasion ( Democratic Underground. Some of those listed: Misuse of campaign funds - donation to a political group that was helping to pass a 2005 bond referendum, paybacks in acceptance of campaign contribution from individual seeking his vote on development legislation, and Tax evasion by his law firm which necessitated a Federal Tax Lien for recovery of funds. |
| Kingston - 1 | Paybacks: According to The Center for Public Integrity, Kingston earmarked $1.6 Million in taxpayer funds for L-3 Communications Corp after L-3's PAC contributed $2000 and after executives donated $1500 for his election campaign. |
| Lewis, John - 5 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Linder - 7 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Marshall, Jim - 8 | Paybacks: Jim Marshall demonstrates a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer financed earmarks. Seattle Times Favor Factory Investigation reports 2008 earmarks of $4 Million to Northrop Grumman (VA and NY sites, not GA) after receipt of $2000. Although the majority of Marshall's defense earmarks are for out-of-state entities, he did earmark $2.4 Million for Mercer University (located in his state) after receipt of $50,100 from school leadership. |
| Price, Tom - 6 | No Corrupt Practices Found |
| Scott, David - 13 | Tax evasion, misuse of political position, misuse of political funds: Scott earned a place on CREWS most Corrupt in 2007, when they uncovered personal tax evasion of $23,200 and family company tax evasion of $158,600. After exposure, Scott indicated that he eventually paid the taxes but, as with all government officials, did not face charges. Misuse of political funds involved diversion of $125,000 to family members and $500,000 to his family business. Misuse of political position involved use of federally paid congressional staff and resources on personal re-election campaign. |
| Westmoreland - 3 | No Corruption Found |
Hawaii Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| HI | |
|---|
| Abercrombie - 1 | Payback history. According to house.gov personal earmark disclosures, Abercrombie earmarked $2.4 Million in taxpayer funds to BAE whose PAC and employees donated $19190 to his campaign. Pukoa Scientific reaped much better rewards for its' $4600, raking in a $3.5 Million taxpayer funded Abercrombie earmark for 2009. |
| Hirono - 2 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
Idaho Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| ID | |
|---|
| Minnick - 1 | No Corruption Found |
| Simpson - 2 | Paybacks: Simpson rewarded Microbial VAC Cystems Ince with 3.2 Million taxpayer dollars in a 2008 earmark after receipt of 3 spaced donations totalling $750 to his campaign fund (Ref Seattle Times) |
Illinois Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| IL | |
|---|
| Bean - 8 | Paybacks: History of rewarding campaign contributors with taxpayer funds. Seattle Times Favor Factory Investigation uncovered 3 2008 earmarks totalling $3.4 Million for Recon Optical, a subsidiary of Bourns, after receipt of $3070 in campaign donations. |
| Biggert - 13 | Paybacks: Rewards for campaign contributors: Seattle Times investigations uncovered a $1 Million 2008 taxpayer funded earmark for Advanced Diamond Technologies after receipt of $250. The same report shows a taxpayer financed earmark for EPIR of $1.6 Million. Shortly after that earmark, EPIR president Sivailanthan Sivalingam donated $1000 to her campaign fund. (Ref: campaignmoney.com) In 2010 he donated $2300 and Biggert earmarked $5 Million for his company and another $2.5 Million for Advanced Diamond Technologies whose president had donated an additional $1500. (Biggert earmark disclosures) |
| Costello - 12 | Paybacks: Costello demonstrates a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer funds. The Seattle Times Favor Factory investigation uncovered a 2008 $3.2 Million earmark for General Dynamics after receipt of $17,000 and two earmarks totalling $4.6 Million for Olin after receipt of $2400 in campaign donations. |
| Davis, Danny - 7 | Misuse of campaign funds: A Citizens for Ethics 2006 investigation found 19 members of Congress who funneled campaign funds to family members. Danny Davis was one of these 19. He was found to have paid his wife $14,829 in 2006 and $17,186 in 2004 campaign donation funds. |
| Gutierrez - 4 | Misuse of campaign funds: A Citizens for Ethics 2006 investigation found 19 members of Congress who funneled campaign funds to family members. Luis Gutierrez was one of these 19. He was found to have paid his wife $3000 in campaign funds. |
| Foster - 14 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Hare - 17 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Jackson Jr. - 2 | Paybacks: Jackson earmarked and funneled $1.2 Million of taxpayer money to Chicago Magnesium Casting Company, a $2000 campaign donator. See the Seattle Times. Jackson is currently under federal investigation in relation to corruption surrounding Rod Blagovich and the Illinois Senate seat. See Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington's Most Corrupt List. |
| Lipinski - 3 | According to CREW's Most Corrupt List, Lipinski secured $4,000,000 of taxpayer funds for Village of Oaklawn where his district office chief of staff is a member of the Board of Trustees |
Indiana Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| IN | |
|---|
| Pence - 6 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Visclosky - 1 | Paybacks: Visclosky has a history of rewarding campaign donors with taxpayer money. According to Center for Responsive Politics, Visclosky earmarked 1.6 Million for $4600 donor Cryptec Incorporated and $1.2 Million for campaign donor RaySat Antenna Systems. Notably, neither company is even located in Visclosky's Indiana. |
Iowa Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| IA | |
|---|
| Boswell - 3 | Paybacks: Boswell earmark funneled $3.5 Million of taxpayer money to Goodrich Corp after the company gave him $3000 for his re-election fund. See The Seattle Times Favor Factory research |
| Braley - 1 | Paybacks: According the Seattle Times, Braley earmarked $1.6 Million taxpayer dollars for Rockwell Collins Inc after receiving $4600 in campaign fund donations from the company. |
Massachusetts Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| MA | |
|---|
| Capuano - 8 | Paybacks: Involved in PMA payback scandal. According to FreeRepublic.com, Capuano earmarked $2.8 Million in taxpayer money for PMA clients in 2007 after recieving PMA lobbying donations of $54,000. Also, two of the many Capuano earmark paybacks that the Seattle Times Favor Factory Investigation reports included earmark funneling of $2 Million to Parametric Tecnology Corp after receipt of $3500 in campaign funds and of $800,000 to ABT Associates Inc after receipt of $1250 in donations. |
| Frank, Barney - 4 | Misuse of power: According to Judicial Watch, Frank used his influence to secure a $12 Million infusion for a hometown bank that did not qualify based upon TARP program legal criteria. Currently under legal investigation. Additionally, Frank was a knowing and key contributor according to Judicial Watch to the housing and financial crisis of 2008 through his dogged support of Fannie Mae risky loan practices, a company that funneled more than $40,000 to his campaign funds and a company where his "spouse" worked as an executive. businessandmedia.org. |
| Markey - 7 | Abuse of power: According to TheHill.com, Markey requested federal regulatory investigations against a CEO and his company immediately after the man's testimony indicated that Markey's cap-and-trade bill would result in burdensome cost to citizens with little to no change or benefit in emissions. |
Mississippi Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| MS | |
|---|
| Taylor - 4 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Taylor funneled $8 Million of taxpayer money to Rolls-Royce (a $7000 campaign donator) through earmarks in 2008. He also earmarked $6.4 Million to Seemann Composites, giving them a nice return on their $3900 campaign fund donation. |
New Jersey Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| NJ | |
|---|
| Frelinghuysen - 11 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Frelinghuysen is a prolific earmarker for his campaign donators. Two of many include Marotta Controlls and Dewey Electronics who each received earmarks for $2.4 Million taxpayer dollars. The company donations to Frelinghuysen's re-election funds were $17,000 and $13,700 respectively. Frelinghuysen is also involved in the PMA scandal according to FreeRepublic.com. He rewarded PMA clients with $7.3 Million in taxpayer funded earmarks after receipt of PMA lobbying donations of $29,129. |
| Pascrell Jr. - 8 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Pascrell has a history of rewarding campaign contributers with generous taxpayer funded earmarks. ITT received $4 Million after donating $11,000 and Impact Instrumentation received a $2.4 Million return on their $2000 donation. |
| Rothman - 9 | Paybacks: PMA scandal - FreeRepublic.com, uncovered $3.2 Million in 2007 Rothman taxpayer earmarks to PMA clients after PMA lobbying campaign donations of $4000 to Rothman. Also, the Seattle Times identifies many instances of Rothman paybacks in 2008 including earmark funneling of $4 Million to ITT after receiving $17,000 from the company and earmark funneling $2.4 Million to Drs Technologies after receiving $23,500 in campaign funds from the company. |
New York Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| NY | |
|---|
| Ackerman - 5 | Payback history: According to Legistorm.com, Ackerman earmarked $4.8 Million in taxpayer funds for donator Northrop Grumman and has earmarked $2.3 Million for Ysrael A Seinuk, P.C. Consulting Engineers after receiving $5000 in campaign funds from Northrop Grumman PAC for his 2008 election and $1000 from Ysrael Seinuk (per Congress.org). At least Northrop Grumman is asked to produce something for it's taxpayer funded bonus. Ysrael Seinuk's earmark is worded as an outright gift to be used to pay employees salaries making the company better able to win more government contract bids away from companies whose employee salaries are not government subsidized. |
| Maloney - 14 | Votes for Sale? According to the Washington Post, Maloney received $9500 from the sugar growers at a "sugar breakfast" fundraiser 4 days after casting her vote to send $1 Billion in taxpayer subsidies to the sugar growers. |
| Nadler - 8 | Paybacks: According to Watchdog, Mr. Nadler directed $1.6 Million in taxpayer funds to Weidlinger Associates after they donated $9000 to his campaign. The cost of that donation to taxpayers may be more than the $1.6 Million because Nadler has a history of using campaign donations on large quantities of food which will likely exacerbate his obesity problems resulting extensive healthcare costs at the expense of taxpayers who finance the premium Congressional healthcare plan. |
| Rangel - 15 | Made CREW top 20 corrupt Congressmen list by illegally accepted reduced/rent controlled rate on apartment, failing to pay income tax on $75,000 rental income, and failing to report 13yr interest-free loan (technically gift) as required by House ethics rules. |
| Towns - 10 | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: According to CBS News, Mr. Towns benefited from Countrywide's special loan deal program for politicians with 3 separate Countrywide loans. Interestingly, as chairman of the House "Oversight and Government Reform" Committee, he is personally responsible for blocking the release of Countrywide's records on "sweetheart loans". |
| Weiner - 9 | Cluelessly corrupt and entitled: Weiner apparently believes that in addition to being immune from "normal people" laws regarding perjury, Congressmen should be able to extend that immunity to whomever else they choose. Politico printed a letter he wrote pressuring the FBI to bend to his will regarding ignoring the law in the Roger Clemens case. Also, according to NYDailyNews, Weiner earmarked hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for Sephardic Jewish community organizations he personally favors and who donate generously to his campaigns. |
Ohio Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| OH | |
|---|
| Kaptur - 9 | Paybacks: Unlike the majority of payback earmarkers, Kaptur doesn't even try to pretend she is helping her district. She earmarks for donating companies in other states. The Seattle Times reports two such in VA. American Systems Corp and Impact Engineering each received generous taxpayer earmark gifts from Kaptur of $4 Million after donating $15,000 and $3500 respectively to Kaptur's re-election campaigns. According to FreeRepublic.com, Kaptur also involved herself in the PMA scandal by earmarking $1.6 Million for their clients after receipt of PMA lobbying donations of $34,500. |
| Turner - 3 | Expense Account Abuse? According to the Wall Street Journal, Turner spent $1435 of taxpayer dollars on a digital camera. Yes, small potatoes compared to others in the house but abuse is abuse... |
Oklahoma Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| OK | |
|---|
| Boren - 2 | Paybacks: History of rewarding campaign donors according to data on Center for Responsive Policies and Earmark Disclosures. $7.5 Million in 2009 earmark requests for Raytheon who donated $10,000 in just the last two election cycles and $4.5 Million for General Atomics in CA who donated $12,250 in the last two cycles. |
| Cole - 4 | Paybacks: The Seattle Times reports an earmark reward of $3.2 Million for Stanley after receipt of $10000 in campaign donations. |
| Fallin - 5 | Paybacks: The Seattle Times reports taxpayer financed earmark rewards of $3 Million for Wave Technologies after Fallin receipt of $2600 in campaign donations. |
| Lucas - 3 | No Corruption Found |
| Sullivan - 1 | Paybacks: The Seattle Times reports taxpayer financed earmarks of $2.8 Million for L-3 Communications by Sullivan after receipt of $9750 in campaign donations. |
Oregon Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| OR | |
|---|
| Wu - 1 | Paybacks and kickbacks: Wu earmark funneled $3 Million in a 2 year span to InSport forcing the Marines to buy dangerous polyester t-shirts that were banned on the battlefield due to melting. Why would Wu do this? $6350 in donations from InSport over a 6month period speaks for itself. (Ref Seattle Times). Wu does not discriminate against companies who make safe products however, as long as they donate. Favor Factory reports earmarks of $1 Million for $8400 contributor Oregon Aero and $2.4 Million for New Balance, a $7000 contributor. |
Pennsylvania Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| PA | |
|---|
| Altmire - 4 | Paybacks. According to Legistorm, Altmire earmarked 800,000 in taxpayer funds for IBIS Tek after heavy financial campaign support of $35,500 from IBIS Tek employees. Center for Responsive Politics. Altmire is also involved in the PMA Group donation/earmarking scandal as a large recipient of donations and as a large earmarker for the group. Actual numbers listed on FreeRepublic.com. |
| Doyle - 14 | Paybacks: According to FreeRepublic.com, Doyle is a part of the PMA kickback/pay-to-play scandal. He earmarked $1.6 Million taxpayer dollars for PMA clients in 2007 after receipt of $69,400 in lobbying campaign donation funds. The Seattle Times uncovered 2008 earmarking gifts for campaign donors including $1.2 Million for Stemnion who donated $6600 to Doyle and $800,000 in taxpayer money for Converteam who donated $2250 for Doyle's re-election. |
| Holden - 17 | Paybacks: According to FreeRepublic.com, Holden is a part of the PMA kickback/pay-to-play scandal. He earmarked $3.2 Million taxpayer dollars for PMA clients in 2007 after receipt of $57,275 in lobbying campaign donation funds. The Seattle Times uncovered 2008 earmarking gifts for campaign donors including $3.2 Million for Fidelity Technologies Corp who donated $9000 to Holden and $1.6 Million in taxpayer money for Valley Enterprises who donated $3000 for Holden's re-election. |
| Murphy, Patrick - 8 | Paybacks: Murphy not only participated in payback schemes but forced inferior products on our military personnel in the process. Murphy joined several other corrupt lawmakers in forcing the military through earmarking (Legistorm) to spend $5.6 Million of their approved defense funds on inferior decontamination powder. Why? The manufacturer, Rohm and Haas paid $3000 to Murphy's campaign (Congress.org). See the Seattle Times for the story. |
| Schwartz - 13 | Paybacks: Schwartz not only participated in payback schemes but forced inferior products on our military personnel in the process. Schwartz joined several other corrupt lawmakers in forcing the military through earmarking (Legistorm) to spend $5.6 Million of their approved defense funds on inferior decontamination powder. Why? The manufacturer, Rohm and Haas paid $8000 to Schwartz' campaign (Congress.org). See the Seattle Times for the story. |
South Carolina Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| SC | |
|---|
| Clyburn - 6 | No Corruption Found |
| Inglis - 4 | Paybacks: According to the Seattle Times, Inglis earmarked $2.4 Million of taxpayer money for Lockheed Martin after collecting $5000 in campaign funding from the company. |
| Wilson, Joe - 2 | No Government Corruption Found |
Tennessee Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| TN | |
|---|
| Wamp - 3 | Paybacks: According to FreeRepublic.com, Wamp is involved in the PMA kickback/pay-to-play scandal. He earmarked $2.8 Million taxpayer dollars for PMA clients in 2007 after receipt of $23,900 in lobbying campaign donation funds. The Seattle Times uncovered a 2008 taxpayer financed earmark of $1.52 Million for Radiance Technologies who donated $5500 for Wamp's re-election. |
Texas Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| TX | |
|---|
| Barton, Joe - 6 | Paybacks - legislative and financial: Barton is responsible for an Amendment in the new HealthCare Bill that allows pharmaceutical companies to extend patent monopolies, protecting exhorbitant prices for biologic medications. FireDogLake.com exposes negative impact of this legislative attempt. Why would Barton deliberately protect high drug prices? Follow the money at OpenSecrets.com. Barton recieved $11,000 from Genzyme, $10,000 from Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Allergan, and Pfizer... See reference for the entire extensive list. Also, according to the Seattle Times Favor Factory, Barton generously rewarded $6000 campaign donor L-3 Communications with a $2.4 Million taxpayer financed earmark. |
| Culberson - 7 | No Corruption in Congress Found |
| Edwards, Chet - 17 | Paybacks: According to FreeRepublic.com, Edwards is a part of the PMA kickback/pay-to-play scandal. He earmarked $6.04 Million taxpayer dollars for PMA clients in 2007 after receipt of $48,724 in lobbying campaign donation funds. The Seattle Times uncovered earmark funneling in 2008 of $2.64 Million for Lynntech Inc who donated $4800 to Edwards' re-election. |
| Granger - 12 | Paybacks: According to The Center for Public Integrity, Granger rewarded General Dynamics, whose PAC donated $18000 for her campaign, with $1.2 Million taxpayer dollars. L-3 Communications Corp reaped an even better return on investment, receiving $2.4 Million in taxpayer dollars in Granger earmarks after its' PAC contributed $4500 to her campaign. |
| Paul - 14 | No Government Corruption Found |
| Thornberry -13 | No Government Corruption Found |
Virginia Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| VA | |
|---|
| Moran - 8 | Paybacks: Moran has a history of treating campaign contributors to taxpayer money. According to Watchdog.net, Moran earmarked $2.4 Million of taxpayer money for Mantech International who contributed $2300 to his campaign. Saic however, received much more on their $300 investment, raking in $1.6 Million in taxpayer money. |
Washington Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| WA | |
|---|
| Baird - 3 | Paybacks: The Seattle Times reports payback schemes to Guardian Marine International involving Baird, Dicks and Murray. $17.65 Million was earmarked for boats that the Coast Guard and Navy did not want and could not use. Why? Baird recieved a hefty $14,277 from Guardian Marine while Dicks and Murray were similarly rewarded. The insidious problem with earmarks for equipment like this which cannot be used is that, due to budget rules, approved Pentagon funds must be diverted from needed projects to cover the earmarks for things such as these useless boats. Baird does not limit his payback earmarking to completely unusable projects however. Seattle Times Favor Factory reports that he also earmarked $2 Million in 2008 for $2000 donator Silver Eagle Manufacturing and $1.6 Million for Outdoor Research Inc after receipt of $2000 in campaign donations. |
| Dicks - 6 | Paybacks: Tremendous payback history. Dicks funneled $6 Million to Safeboats International by earmarking after the company donated $10,850 and earmark funneled $4 Million to Mobilisa Inc after the company kicked in $21,900 for his re-election. See the Seattle Times for more like these. Also, according to FreeRepublic.com, Dicks was a major player in the PMA earmark for cash scandal, earmarking well over $12 Million for PMA clients for 2008 alone after receiving $91,600 in campaign donations from PMA. |
| Inslee - 1 | Paybacks - legislative and financial: Inslee is responsible for an Amendment in the new HealthCare Bill to allow pharmaceutical companies to extend patent monopolies, protecting exhorbitant prices for biologic medications. FireDogLake.com exposes negative impact of this legislative attempt. Why would Inslee deliberately protect high drug prices? Follow the money at Citizens for Responsive Politics. Inslee recieved $18,150 from Amgen, $5715 from Pfizer, $5000 from Merck... See reference for the entire extensive list. Also, according to the Seattle Times Favor Factory, Inslee funneled $3.2 Million through earmarks to $5000 campaign donor Raytheon and earmarked $3.2 Million for Verdant Power (not even in WA). Motive may have been related to $250 from company CFO or by $7600 from company's lobby group Strategic Marketing Innovations. |
Wisconsin Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| WI | |
|---|
| Sensenbrenner - 5 | No Corruption Found. In 2006 there was a brief scandal derived from accusations of travel ethics violations by CREW. However, the primary motive for the accusations may have been political since the organization involved ignored the rest of Congressional members utilizing the same travel practices. (Legistorm) |
West Virginia Representative Corruption in Congress, Ethics Violations, or Abuse of Public Trust
| WV | |
|---|
| Mollohan - 1 | Use of Seat for Personal Gain: According to NLPCMollohan appropriated well over $100,000,000 in taxpayer funds through earmarks for non-profits that he set up and staffed with friends. In addition to benefiting from campaign donations from these recipients of taxpayer money, Mollohan increased his personal net worth over 1000% in 4 short years due to real estate deals with these friends. |
|
