Fool Me All Over Again

Republicans are again tossing lobbyist money overboard as another lobbyist falls.

The Hill reported that 13 House Republicans have already returned or planned to return contributions from lobbyist Tony Rudy. Rudy, a former cohort of lobbyist kingpin Jack Abramoff, pled guilty to conspiracy last week and could possibly be a witness, like Abramoff, in the government's corruption probe of lawmakers and their aides.

Six offices of House Republicans have stated that they do not plan to return the contributions or donate them to charity. From Rudy, 34 House Republicans have received money to their campaigns or political action committees.

Rudy worked for ex-Majority Leader and soon to be ex-Representative Tom DeLay from 1995 to 2000. DeLay was the recipient of $4,000 from Rudy during the years 2001, 2002, and 2005, according to The Hill. That figure is second only to the much more substantial amount given to Representative John Doolittle (R-CA).

Doolittle (what a name for the job) received either $11,250 or $12,500 according to The Hill (there are conflicting numbers in the report, possibly a typo). He is dealing with this revelation the same way he dealt with money given by Abramoff. He has stated that he is confident that the investigation will prove his innocence.

"Congressman Doolittle believes he has done nothing wrong and has no intention of returning any campaign contributions that were made in a lawful and ethical manner," said an e-mail from Chief of Staff Richard Robinson.

It is very interesting that during the rush to dump Abramoff's money that money from Tony Rudy was mostly retained until he went down.

Perhaps the grand rush to dump Abramoff's money came only because his fall made headlines for days in early January. Rudy is a much smaller fish, but not the only one. It is amazing how coverage of these proceedings has fallen so far from the highs of Abramoff's plea deal. For now, it looks like this cycle of tossing money aside once the donor pleads guilty and cooperates with the government will continue.

The Hill reported all the lawmakers who did not return calls by the time the story went to press. These lawmakers, connected to Rudy, include several Republican House leaders. The list is below:

Half of the Republican lawmakers contacted for this story did not return calls by press time: DeLay, Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) and Reps. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Rob Simmons (Conn.), Darrell Issa (Calif.), Ric Keller (Fla.), Geoff Davis (Ky.), Robin Hayes (N.C.), John Duncan (Tenn.), Sam Graves (Mo.), Ron Lewis (Ky.) and William Jenkins (Tenn.).

The Hill also provides a list of donations to the Republican lawmakers from Rudy:

Rudy's beneficiaries

House Republicans $ Received Years
John Doolittle (Calif.) $12,500 2001, 2004-05
Tom DeLay (Texas) $4,000 2001-02, 2005
Mike Ferguson (N.J.) $3,000 2004-05
Sam Graves (Mo.) $2,500 2003, 2005
Ginny Brown-Waite (Fla.) $1,500 2002, 2004
Tom Feeney (Fla.) $1,500 2004-05
Spencer Bachus (Ala.) $1,500 2003, 2005
Roy Blunt (Mo.) $1,500 2003-04
Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) $1,490 2001, 2005
Bob Ney (Ohio) $1,250 2003
Richard Pombo (Calif.) $1,250 2002-03
John Duncan (Tenn.) $1,000 2003
Robin Hayes (N.C.) $1,000 2003, 2005
Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.) $1,000 2004
John Carter (Texas) $1,000 2003, 2005
Jon Porter (Nev.) $1,000 2002-03
Mike Rogers (Mich.) $1,000 2003
Joe Wilson (S.C.) $1,000 2004
Richard Baker (La.) $1,000 2005
Ric Keller (Fla.) $1,000 2003
Bobby Jindal (La.) $1,000 2005
Ernest Istook (Okla.) $750 2003
Charlie Dent (Pa.) $500 2005
Jim McCrery (La.) $500 2003
Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) $500 2005
Geoff Davis (Ky.) $500 2004
Dave Reichert (Wash.) $500 2005
Darrell Issa (Calif.) $500 2003
Ron Lewis (Ky.) $500 2005
Mark Foley (Fla.) $500 2003
Michael Burgess (Texas) $500 2003
Eric Cantor (Va.) $500 2003
Rob Simmons (Conn.) $250 2002
Bill Jenkins (Tenn.) $250 2003
Chris Cannon (Utah) $250 2003

TOTAL $48,500