...The PMA Group (click title to entry - thank you) which has represented hundreds of large and small defense contactors seeking federal money, will cease operations March 31, according to a report in the Washington, D.C. newspaper Roll Call. The firm has already lost several of its lobbyists, who announced last week they were leaving to form a new firm....
I know that request seems silly to Congressman Murtha, but, we live in a time of 'mistrust' due to the calamity left behind by the previous Republican Empire. He needs to come forward regarding the efforts of small military contractors and their recognition in order to serve the country's needs.
John Murtha was a veteran of the Marines and Marine Reserves. He was not a strong pundit of the wars of Bush and Cheney. His district was called into service and sustained many losses in Iraq. His votes in Congress were to support military contractors, but, it was tempered with the realization that Bush/Cheney were moving into inappropriate and prolonged war in a country where we had no business being while al Qaeda continued to plague allies.
The defense contracts awarded this 'retiring lobbying firm' were in the millions. The monies Bush/Cheney and the Republicans spent on an illegal war (which were serviced by military contractors) were in the billions. If I am not mistaken, the first installment to Iraq was $68 billion of which yet has to be accounted.
The donations attached to this lobbyist firm started in 2001. I wonder if it were after or before 911 and what indeed peaked their interest to donate.
It is also noteworthy that the firm was 'raided' at the last minute during Bush/Cheney's final days in office. Probably about the time the firm decided to close its doors with a retiring CEO. Also noted, the lobbyists that worked for PMA (click here) aren't retiring but moving to different firms to represent clients. Client's use lobbyists. They pay fees and use lobbyists because they have a business to run and it is a way of finding representation in DC when the company cannot support its own representative to the government.
I think Congressman Visclosky has the right idea. Don't give the money back, give it to the much abused US Treasury. I like that. Do we get to keep it?
Visclosky to return PMA campaign contributions (click here)
February 19, 2009
By Jon Seidel
Post-Tribune staff writerU.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky will turn over $18,000 in campaign cash to the U.S. Treasury after a federal investigation led to questions about the source of those donations, a spokesman said Wednesday.
That money was first thought to have arrived from donors connected to The PMA Group, a?Virginia lobbying firm raided by the FBI in November whose associates have given the most cash to Visclosky's campaigns....
