Rep. Flake: ‘Another Indictment Or Two’ For Earmark Abuse Is ‘Coming’
Rep. Flake: ‘Another Indictment Or Two’ For Earmark Abuse Is ‘Coming’
Over the years, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has garnered a reputation as “the House’s No. 1 earmark-hater” due to his willingness “to kill projects” favored by his colleagues. Though he’s gained increased support for his anti-earmark mission since the 2006 elections, Flake says it will probably take “another” earmark-centered “indictment or two” before his fellow lawmakers seriously tackle earmark reform.
Flake believes that day is right around the corner, telling the Politico that he thinks more indictments “are coming“:
One common take on the problem comes from Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). The 44-year-old conservative sees many of his colleagues publicly applauding his attempts to kill pork-barrel spending while privately working to keep alive the budget “earmark” system that has already been the wellspring of several recent corruption cases. “It will probably take another indictment or two” to force change, Flake said in a Wednesday interview. “I think those [indictments] are coming.”
Though he did not name names to the Politico, a number of Flake’s colleagues are currently under scrutiny for their handling of earmarks:
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA): Currently the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, Lewis is under investigation for earmarks he’s dished out to clients of a lobbying firm that employs his longtime friend, former Congressman Bill Lowery.
Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA): Miller, who is currently under investigation due to shady land deals, has also used earmarks to steer millions of dollars to his business partner, Lewis Operating.
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA): Though not currently under federal investigation, Calvert has made huge personal profits off of his own earmarks and a grand jury recently found that a land deal of his violated the law.
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV): In the past 10 years, Mollohan has directed $250 million in earmarks to five non-profits he created, after which employees and associates of those organizations subsequently donated $397,122 to Mollohan’s political coffers. The FBI has subpoenaed financial records from the organizations.
Flake could also be referring to the “fresh wave of campaign-related theft and corruption investigations” reported yesterday by Roll Call. According to the Capitol Hill paper, “indictments may be on the horizon.”
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I can promise you he’s not referring to indictments of Republicans…
October 11th, 2007 at 2:25 pmWow, a conservative conservative…a very rare breed these days.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:30 pmI’d vote for Flake.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:32 pmIncluded should be Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska). Included an earmark, AFTER THE CONFERENCE REPORT WAS COMPLETED) for $10 million to the Transportation Bill for Florida…to build an interchange at I-75 and Coconut Road. The guy who owns the (very environmentally sensitive) land just east of Coconut road is a major contributor to the RNC and did a fund-raiser for Young here in Florida shortly before that vote. NO ONE in this county (Lee) wanted money for that purpose…including the U.S. Rep – Connie Mack. Not sure I believe him, but I know the other folks, and they (we) are ALL opposed to that interchange.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:35 pmI can promise you he’s not referring to indictments of Republicans…
Actually this guy probably is. I would vote for him as well. He’s a pretty straight shooter and he’s not faking it (like some – I’m talking to you Pelosi) when it comes to responsible spending and wanting to clean up corruption.
He’s the real deal. I know, it’s almost impossible to get your mind around it but he’s talking both sides of the aisle here.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:37 pm“The 44-year-old conservative sees many of his colleagues publicly applauding his attempts to kill pork-barrel spending while privately working to keep alive the budget “earmark†system that has already been the wellspring of several recent corruption cases.”
Flake’s observation of insincere condemnations of the existing earmark system (”yes, kill the earmark system — except for MY earmarks, of course!”) reminds me of equally insincere condemnations of illegal immigration (”we need to be tougher on illegal immigration — except for MY nanny, MY gardener, MY maid, etc.”)
October 11th, 2007 at 2:37 pmFlake is certainly a thorn on the side and danger to the Republican party for his outspokeness about the budget earmarks of lawmakers. This is one example of a Republican lawmaker that is far separate from the masses of corrupted Republican party leaders.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:42 pmFlake is an oddity in the republic party these days. I’d vote for him.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:51 pmWow, a conservative conservative…a very rare breed these days.
A conservative Republican, that is ~ I was thinking the same thing. The Republicans these days are desperate to be remembered like Ronald Reagan, yet they operate like Ronald McDonald… Flake’s anti-earmark agenda is refreshing.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:55 pmFrom what I know of Flake, he’s “one of the good ones”, could we please get a less crazy picture up there?
October 11th, 2007 at 2:56 pmTHUMBS UP, BUDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 11th, 2007 at 2:59 pmFlake may be on the right side of this issue owing to his Libertarian streak, but his voting record shows he is ultra conservative. Not a person I could ever consider voting for.
October 11th, 2007 at 3:04 pmI definitely support Flake on this issue. I hope he is instrumental in the indictment of corrupt politicians of all ideological stripes–both Democratic and Republican.
October 11th, 2007 at 3:18 pmRep. Flake and
Rep. Jerry Lewis
What’s next?
Rep. BOZO?
At least it’s honest.
October 11th, 2007 at 3:23 pmFlake is certainly a thorn on the side and danger to the Republican party for his outspokeness about the budget earmarks of lawmakers. This is one example of a Republican lawmaker that is far separate from the masses of corrupted Republican party leaders.
Comment by SP Biloxi — October 11, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
He better look out or he will be either Swiftboated or outright Tillmaned. Repugs and crooked Dems don’t like the light shown on their cockroach nests by their own kind.
October 11th, 2007 at 3:26 pm#13 I totally agree! Get ‘em all! Every single dirty politician. Clean house. He needs a big trophy like a Kennedy or Hatch. Just don’t end up like Vince Foster!
October 11th, 2007 at 3:34 pm#13 I totally agree! Get ‘em all! Every single dirty politician. Clean house. He needs a big trophy like a Kennedy or Hatch. Just don’t end up like Vince Foster!
Comment by ANeccessaryEvil — October 11, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
If that happened, the Repug Congressmen would be able to hold their Party caucus in the MPLS Larry Craig Memorial men’s room stall.
October 11th, 2007 at 3:43 pmThis guy is ultra-conservative. While I agree with his budget cutting style, he is certainly not a liberal’s friend and NOT someone I’d vote for.
Flakes voting record includes:
-No on stem cell research
-Yes on funding for health providers who don’t provide abortion info.
-Yes on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad.
-Yes on making the Patriot Act permanent
-Yes on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
-Yes on deauthorizing some endangered species
-No on campaingn finance reform
-No on increasing the minimum wage
see more:
October 11th, 2007 at 3:52 pmhttp://www.ontheissues.org/House/Jeff_Flake.htm
As much as he may be a straight shooter on this issue, HE IS STILL A REPUBLICAN, and cannot be trusted to do what is right. He will follow the REPUBLICAN mantra of destroying america.
Buck Fush
October 11th, 2007 at 4:02 pmYes Calvert is a crook and he does have a record of being found in a car with a drug prostitute in the act of having sex. Yes he was caught by the Riverside Police department yes he said who he was as if to wipe it off. Yes he plead guilty and has a public record of hiring a prostitute and having sex in a public place.
Now Calvert is preaching Christian Family/Moral Values like his friends in the GOP. You notice not action of taken with Calvert’s criminal convection because he’s a Republican. He continues to steal land and make deals for profit just as Cunningham and others have done. Calvert is an example of what’s wrong in the United States and it’s true values.
We have a convicted felon representing Riverside California so crime does pay if your a Republican.
October 11th, 2007 at 4:14 pmIf you like Grover Norquist, he’s your kind of guy.
October 11th, 2007 at 4:21 pmSpeaking of, ah, flake, it looks like the congressman’s been sampling some of W.’s Bolivian marching powder.
October 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pmRep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA): Currently the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, Lewis is under investigation for earmarks he’s dished out to clients of a lobbying firm that employs his longtime friend, former Congressman Bill Lowery.
This is the investigation that fired US Attorney Carol Lam was in the middle of when she was fired.
October 11th, 2007 at 5:58 pmHow come no one ever mentions Ron Pauls earmarking addiction?
October 11th, 2007 at 7:51 pmYou guys, Flake is actually an old school Republican. He actually does some good shit.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:21 pmWhat’s more likely is for you wingnuts to ALL end up like Abramoff and Cunningham (and Craig)!
Comment by republicans hate facts — October 11, 2007 @ 3:48
Are you gonna be pro-earmark abuse since a Republican is against it? ;)
October 12th, 2007 at 12:20 am