Rep. (Katherine) Harris omits ex-aide's role in housing program

[sabra]

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/15623888.htm

Rep. Harris omits ex-aide's role in housing program

In calling Democrat Bill Nelson a ''do-nothing senator,'' rival Katherine Harris talks up her signature legislation in Congress, the American Dream Downpayment Act, which she tells voters she passed in ''record time'' to help the poor, little guy buy his first home.

But the congresswoman never mentions one person who also benefited from the act: B. Dan Berger, who left his post as chief of staff of her congressional office to lobby for one of the act's prime backers, America's Community Bankers.

Berger began lobbying on the issue so quickly that his name appears on the bankers' group lobbying report that covers the first half of 2003, though he was with Harris until the end of May 2003. It's illegal for a congressional staffer to lobby a former boss within one year, and Berger says he did nothing wrong because he followed the law.

...

But Nelson's campaign staff and critics of Washington's culture of insider influence say the act points to a weakness in the Republican's candidacy -- close ties to special interests that sometimes ride the line of legality. They point to Harris unwittingly accepting tainted campaign money from a crooked defense contractor and from corrupt congressman Bob Ney, who helped push the American Dream legislation through the House.

[Ignacio Upton]

1. Just when I thought she'd go without imploding again

n/t.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. I read "Rep. (Katherine) Harris omits sex-aide's role..."

:spray:


:rofl: