Trout must hire lobbyist

by: Montana Cowgirl

Mon Jun 21, 2010 at 11:13:52 AM MST

For the first time in 35 years, there is agreement between Montana and Canada to permanently forbid mining and exploration in a beautiful and wild area next to Glacier and Waterton Parks. All that is needed is 17 million dollars from Congress to seal the deal. Yet last week Baucus stated publicly, and incredibly,  that the request for the appropriation "came in the wrong form".  This claim merits serious examination.  As far as I can tell, there is no such thing as a "form" for requesting federal money. When a state needs something from the federal government, the Congressman/Senator is supposed to bring it home.  Plus, Baucus could be heard saying recently that he has been working very hard on this environmental issue for 35 years.

It is a very peculiar state of affairs that no doubt traces to the ego-bumping between Schweitzer and Baucus. Some activists on this issue hope perhaps Tester can do better. Nobody expects Rehberg to do anything, of course.  The best part is that Max Baucus's staff continues to send out press releases describing Max as "America's most powerful senator."

The fish in the North Fork of the Flathead, which will be killed off by coal sludge if this deal falls apart, clearly do not understand that they need either a high-powered corporate fish lobbyist, or must write fish checks to the Baucus campaign, in order to see that their home is protected.  

Rehberg's Dirty Dozen: Orange hunting vests? So last week. The suit to have is the orange jumpsuit

by: Montana Cowgirl

Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 14:29:57 PM MST

Check out the Rehberg Dirty Dozen below the fold.

Is character still important to Montana voters? Is it still important to elect leaders that value character? Even George W. Bush said "A leader must surround himself with honorable people."

When you see who Rehberg chooses as his associates, staff, and advisors, what does it tell you about his judgment? What does it say when he selects people like this to advise him on matters that are so important?

This is a story that definitely speaks for itself.  

That which lends corruption lighter wings to fly

by: Yellowstone Kelly

Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 08:11:21 AM MST

It seems to have worked out. Earlier today, a US District Court Judge said she will declare a mistrial after the jurors of a grand jury declared themselves deadlocked.

Unless you follow progressive blogs, you may not know who Kevin Ring is. Despite being indicted, his name barely made the mainstream news, sort of, about a year and one-half ago. Kevin was a minion of Jack Abramoff's. And, is a good friend of Dennis Rehberg.

Oh, and Kevin gave Denny $2,000.00 in campaign contributions between June 13, 2002 and March 2003.

That just might have been a pay-off for Rehberg's recommendation to a county commission in eastern Montana contract with Mr. Ring to secure money for a project that was never completed.

LITW had a nice post.

But, alas, the burden of proof was not met, again. In fact, the Forbes article referenced above makes an interesting point:

Ring is only the second person implicated in the Abramoff scandal to fight the criminal charges at trial rather than pleading guilty and cutting a deal to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for the possibility of a reduced sentence. The other was David Safavian, the George W. Bush administration's former chief procurement officer, whose convictions were overturned following a trial in 2006. Safavian was convicted again in a retrial and faces sentencing Friday.

This is pathetic. The single largest scandal of the 21st Century and one conviction.

One!

Looks like Denny caught another break.

Gazette slams Ring's hire by Carter county; forgets Rehberg's role

by: Jay Stevens

Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:57:56 AM MST

Why should Montana counties or cities have to hire lobbyists to represent their interests in Congress? Why should local tax dollars be spent on communicating public needs to our elected federal representatives?

Washington lobbyists are an expense that Montana governments shouldn't have. We Montanans already pay two U.S. senators and a U.S. representative to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill.

However, Montana local governments and even public universities have turned to Washington, D.C., lobbyists to press their cases in the halls of Congress. As a report in Monday's Gazette about an indicted former lobbyist told us, employing a Capitol Hill lobbyist can bring as much trouble as help.

Okay...good, good...now...

Fortunately, members of Montana's congressional delegation seem to understand that it's their job to listen to the needs of Montanans, including local and state government leaders. The delegation members each are on record as pledging to make sure that lobbyists are unnecessary for Montanans.

Wait a minute, now! You can't go on record trashing Carter county for hiring Kevin Ring...without noting, you know, that county officials went to Dennis Rehberg, and he sent them to the Abramoff lobbyist, right? And then turn around and praise Rehberg for how "accessible" he is?

Does...not...compute...

Carter county comes up in Ring indictment

by: Jay Stevens

Sun Sep 14, 2008 at 16:51:53 PM MST

Ring was recommended to Carter County by Montana Representative Denny Rehberg. He was hired in 2003 to help obtain federal dollars to pave a portion of gravel highway between the small towns of Alzada and Ekalaka in southeastern Montana.

Prosecutors allege he used his inappropriate relationship with a congressional aide to secure some of that money.

* crickets *

Kevin Ring indicted

by: Jay Stevens

Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 12:24:10 PM MST

Here's a clear sign that the Jack Abramoff investigation is still underway: Kevin Ring, a former Abramoff associate and former aide to both Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) and John Ashcroft (when Ashcroft was a senator), has been indicted on corruption charges. Ring is the 11th public official to be charged in the investigation.

Now, most of the news will center on Ring's association with Abramoff and Doolittle. But Doolittle isn't the only lawmaker Ring has associated with in ethically challenged ways. Don't forget Ring's funny business with Dennis Rehberg and a road Carter county wanted.

And here's an excerpt from a statement prosecutors released, as found in USA Today:

In addition, the indictment charges that Ring and his co-conspirators identified public officials who would perform official actions that would assist Ring and his clients, then groomed those public officials by providing things of value with the intent of making those public officials more receptive to requests on behalf of their clients in the future. Ring and his co-conspirators allegedly provided things of value as a means of influencing, inducing and rewarding official actions, and in exchange for official actions. These things of value included all-expenses-paid domestic and international travel, fundraising assistance, meals, drinks, golf, tickets to professional sporting events, concerts and other events, and employment opportunities to spouses of congressional members and staff. According to the indictment these things of value were often billed to Ring's and Abramoff's clients.

Hmm...Ring "provided things of value as a means of influencing, inducing and rewarding official actions"? Including "fundraising assistance"?

Here's hoping Ring will turn state's evidence to reduce his sentence...

Highway 323, revisited

by: Jay Stevens

Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:29:48 AM MST

Highway 323 is, of course, the road that Carter County paid Kevin Ring $100K to lobby for, on recommendation by Dennis Rehberg. (Coincidentally, Rehberg received a nice $1,000 campaign donation from Ring the day Ring signed the contract with Carter County officials.)

Well, Ring got Carter County its $9+ million, but turns out there's a little snafu:

Rehberg requested the money in the House. Baucus added money for other projects in the Senate. The final bill contained billions of highway dollars for Montana.

But according to the Montana Department of Transportation, that money can't be spent right away. Instead, the federal government trickles it out a little at a time over many years. That small trickle is not enough for the state to actually begin any construction, which typically cost a lot upfront.

To get around this, the state planned to pool small amounts of federal money from many different projects into one big account and use it for one project, like Highway 323.

Unbeknownst to either Baucus or Rehberg, U.S. House rules forbade this pooling. That meant the state couldn't spend the $9.6 million.

A local businessman is harassing Max Baucus about straightening out the snafu. But the snafu originated with the House rules, not the Senate's. And given that Rehberg had Carter County pay Ring $100K to lobby for an earmark that Rehberg requested, doesn't Rehberg owe Carter County a little extra effort?

Of course, there may be some procedural issue that only a Senator can solve. I don't know much about the rules of Congress. Or it could be that Max is the only one in this equation who actually has any pull to get something done in DC. Of course, if were from Carter County, I'd think twice before trying to lubricate the wheels again. A hundred thou didn't go as far as you thought it would, eh?

Does this DoJ scandal name "ring" a bell?

by: Jay Stevens

Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 06:19:06 AM MST

A former Justice Department official pled guilty to charges of accepting goodies from an Abramoff associate in exchange for department info that helped Abramoff clients.

The Abramoff associate? Kevin Ring! Geez...that name sounds so familiar...

Incidentally, you've got to think Ring's relationship with Coughlin may hint at why the Abramoff scandal has been so slow to move through Justice. It was bad enough to think US attorneys were fired for looking too closely at Abramoff's GOP connections. Now it appears Abramoff had folks in his debt inside the department itself...

Abramoff-Ring-Doolittle Scandal Exploding

by: Matt Singer

Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 15:37:41 PM MST

Kevin Ring has a Montana connection. He lobbied for Carter County, on Rep. Dennis Rehberg's recommendation. On the same day he inked the deal with Carter County to get Montana taxpayer money, he cut a campaign check to Rehberg.

Classy.

Update -- In similar news, Conrad Burns has thrown down $150,000 in recent months on legal bills.