Disgraced Rep. Jerry Lewis Solicits Lobbyists To Fund His Congressional Portrait
Disgraced Rep. Jerry Lewis Solicits Lobbyists To Fund His Congressional Portrait
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) has been under investigation since May 2006 for his ties to contractors in the Duke Cunningham corruption scandal. Formerly the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Lewis “earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts” for clients of his longtime friend, former congressman Bill Lowery.
Lewis has a been staunch defender of lobbyists and earmarks. “There is a misunderstanding, particularly in the media, that earmarks are ‘out of control,’” he said in 2006, adding that it is completely proper for lawmakers to “massage” that part of the budget. In fact, despite his ethical problems, Lewis is now turning to lobbyists to fund his congressional portrait, which will hang in the committee’s hearing room. CongressDaily (sub. req’d) reports:
Lobbyist disclosure forms, filed last week under last year’s ethics reform legislation, indicate that Lewis, long known for fundraising prowess, has tapped lobbyists for funds to help cover the cost of his portrait, which will hang in the committee’s Rayburn House Office Building hearing room with those of past chairmen. On June 30, the lobbying firm Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates and the Wine Institute, which represents California’s wine industry, each gave $1,000 to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society on behalf of the Jerry Lewis Portrait Committee. The International Dairy Foods Association on the same day gave the society $5,000 on behalf of Lewis.
Such portraits typically cost $25,000, which also covers the unveiling ceremony. Lewis’s spokesman told CongressDaily that the congressman has “got no big extravagant plans or anything.” Lewis is just one of two lawmakers who received lobbyist donations for his portrait fund — the other was Rep. Dan Manzulla (R-IL), former House Small Business Administration chairman.
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How bout just a picture of a dried up prune?
Looks about the same to me.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:45 pmAh. Nice to know Rep. Lewis has his priorities in order.
/snark
August 8th, 2008 at 4:46 pmIsn’t a mug shot provided by the State Dept of Corrections for free ?
Use that one , jackass………
August 8th, 2008 at 4:46 pmTanqueray Says:
——————————————————————————–
What this country needs is a real Dept. of Justice headed up by an honest Attorney General, to get to the bottom of this crap.
Go Barry(fist-tap),Edwards for AG.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
You post the above after singing the praises of Chimpy and Gonzalez and Mukasey ; apparently , your own incredible idiocy is not as glaringly obvious to your ignorant self as it is to everyone else………
August 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pmI don’t understand why my Congressman, Gary Miller, hasn’t been indicted yet. He’s far worse than this guy. I sent him a letter over a year ago asking for him to call for the impeachment of Bush.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:51 pmCan I prove there’s a connection, no, but I’ve been getting a good go over by the IRS ever since. Still am.
And this has nothing to do with his real offenses. I don’t understand why Californians elect such people – Duncan Hunter(!?).
Could there be any doubt that one of the most significant accomplishments of the Gonzalez/Rove Justice Department is keeping this dirtbag out of jail:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/10/cq_facing_fed_probe_house_gop.php
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/003154.php
Him and, of course, Mark Foley.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:53 pmPerhaps the portrait could include ‘The Dukester’ blowing him.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pmWe can solve this type of thing by limiting the number of terms to one, or better yet, pay all member of Congress minimum wage and any ‘extras’ come from their own pocket, no exceptions.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pmCheap bottom shelf gin Says:
Well, nothing. Blah blah blah blah blah. Cheap gin needs to find a new note to play.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:07 pm#9 Bob, I’ve thought for years that we should actually go the other way. Pay our legislators well, but hamstring their ability to profit in the future. No gifts, no seats on any boards, no lucritive lobbying jobs.
I imagine we’d get a better caliber of people in politics if we removed the profit motivator.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:09 pmWhy the hell does he need money for a portrait? The State of California will do it for free!! It is lovingly called a “Mug Shot,” a “Blotter Photo,” a “Booking Imagend” any number of other images due the likes of him. I suspect the Los Angeles Times will publish a free portrait of him on the front page the day he reports to “Q.” However, the Leavenworth Kansas Gazette and Cell Mate may get the first shot. Quit whining, Baby, you sound just like a Rethug!
August 8th, 2008 at 5:16 pmI hope he looks good in prison stripes.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:24 pmBTW, that’s Manzullo, not Manzulla. And I’m surprised they found a canvas large enough for his amazingly over-inflated and swelled head.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:34 pmObama8,
You sure got a 1 track mind in all these threads today. You got some man-love for Edwards? Or are you jealous?
Again, what does Edwards have to do with a corrupt sitting US Rep.?
Last I checked, Edwards holds no elected or appointed position.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:35 pmHey, Obie – perhaps Senator “Wide Stance” Craig can do a little toe-tapping to earn some extra money for his pal Jerry’s portrait.
Or maybe Senator Vitter can do a “Huggies-O-Thon”!
August 8th, 2008 at 5:38 pmThemis, I apologize, if you go away we will Missthee. Just like I missed the hemorrhoids after the Doc cut them off!
August 8th, 2008 at 5:40 pmupside: The trolls are crowing about finding something to villify the Senator with. Of course, they’re still falling all over themselves to defend Vitter and Craig (not to mention Lewis and Manzullo).
August 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pmTanqueray Says:
What this country needs is a real Dept. of Justice headed up by an honest Attorney General, to get to the bottom of this crap.
Go Barry(fist-tap),Edwards for AG.
I hear ya, bro. A guy who cheats on his wife does not have the moral character to hold public office.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:24 pmThat’s one of the reasons I can’t vote for John McCain.
He’s already benefited greatly by the US Attorneys’ firings/ Maybe he should be hanged instead of Pelosi and not as a portrait?
August 8th, 2008 at 7:44 pmwhat a pos – we are all being squeezed by stagflation and this beauty is worried about a phucking oil painting…..he is most definitely a california republican – extra filthy
August 8th, 2008 at 9:17 pmCheck out that ‘do…ga-ROOVY, man!
ha ha
I think Steve Earle may have been right, although it certainly took long enough…the Revolution starts…
NOW!
August 9th, 2008 at 12:51 amI would gladly contribute to hanging Rep Jerry Lewis in the the Hall . . . .
August 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm