From Stark
The Washington Post has taken a close look at U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks’ use of earmarks to get federal funds for the Puget Sound Partnership, at a time when his son David served as that agency’s executive director.
Both father and son tell the Post that the funding was all about cleaning up Puget Sound, and had nothing to do with family ties.
The younger Dicks left his job as the agency’s boss after the GOP took over the House and his father lost the committee chairmanship that had given him authority over large amounts of federal environmental funding.
This story is now listed as “most popular” on the Post’s website.
The larger story is that a bunch(16) of them both democrats and republicans have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, why? Because they police themselves:
“Members of Congress have more leeway than executive branch officials or individuals in publicly held companies, who operate under stricter conflict-of-interest rules that generally prevent them from taking actions that might benefit businesses or institutions where their relatives work. The legislators set and enforce their own rules, giving themselves broad latitude to take steps that can end up directly benefiting their immediate family….
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2012/02/08/Congress-Sends-Millions-to-Groups-Tied-to-Relatives.aspx#page1
Another reason for no earmarks period!
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Reprehensible! I am working very hard on my own personal time to help clean up our global environment; however, this type of dirty, unethical favoritism, whatever side of the aisle it is on, is completely unacceptable as a means to an end. It’s time to vote them all out of office. By and large they are all crooked. Our U. S. Congress has become dirty, polluted and unsustainable.
Who else is vying for this funding?
How many other ‘NGOs are serving this function?
What are the other choices for funding this goal?
How many of them received the same or more funding?
What is the sense of working your butt off to get elected if all you get out of it is a healthcare plan and a pittance of a retirement. What kind of father would he be if he didn’t do all he could to help his son be successful. He has done nothing wrong- it is the American way!
Families are often full of talented people who excel at things. Whether it’s Kennedy or Rockerfeller, Cuomo or Ghandi or Baldwin.
What if Norm’s son was the most skilled and competent person to be running the PSP at that time? Should family members stop doing great works in the community?
Richard, think about it. Which is more important “Trust in Government” or a politicians children and friends.
It is precisely crap like this that prevent some people from ever supporting a raise in taxes.
Don’t the hardworking taxpayers have a right to having their tax dollars spent wisely, and based upon merit, not nepotism?
People are tired of special breaks for politicians and their children and friends.
Congressman Dicks son can get a job just like the rest of us.
Our political system has become rife with examples of “Special Interests” taking care of the children of the politically powerful. which is more in tune with a Monarchy, than a meritocracy where there is a level playing field, and everybody’s children have a chance and nobody gets to job to the head of the line.
What if merit is nepotism?
Like Richard says,
being related doesn’t negate competence.
That’s correct Festus…of course these demo’s can’t read.
No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.
The Queen loves Dicks, it’s Delux! (D)
Abuse of power is just as bad when it is supposedly done for “noble” causes. This includes cleaning up Puget Sound or widening the streets in Ferndale.
How about when the money you corruptly obtain is used efficiently and to good affect?
Kinda like when gangster’s give back to their community, don’t ya know?
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Heck; see all the good government can do when they try;
“Obama Gives $737 Million to Solar Firm Linked to the Pelosi Clan…
Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/nancy-pelosi/2011/09/28/obama-gives-737-million-solar-firm-linked-pelosi-clan#ixzz1luNnVIim
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!