August 28, 2006, 4:22 AM EDT
WASHINGTON -- Depending on your perspective, Letitia White is either the epitome of a Capitol Hill success story or a prime example of an unsettling mix of money, politics and public policy.
White was a receptionist when she joined the staff of Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif. More than two decades later, she is an influential lobbyist whose connections to Lewis -- now chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee -- and others on the Hill have translated into millions of dollars for her and her firm.
They also have made her part of a federal investigation into Lewis' ties to the lobbying firm where she works alongside former California Republican Rep. Bill Lowery, another close Lewis friend.
It's one of a number of corruption investigations involving members of Congress that have prompted lawmakers to look again at tightening lobbying rules. Bills have passed the House and Senate, but little progress has been made in finding common ground on legislation that watchdog groups have criticized as toothless.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in the Lewis case have issued at least 10 subpoenas and are seeking details on why counties, towns and businesses in his Southern California district chose to hire Lowery's lobbying firm, how much they paid, and what kind of communications the firm and Lewis had.
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-letitia-the-lobbyist,0,6510411.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlinesAh, I love the smell of investigations in the morning. Especially when they are investigating corrupt Repugs.
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