You would think that Congress would have an easy time halting earmarks obtained by a lobbying firm recently raided by the feds and the subject of an ongoing federal investigation.
Think again.
Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, I’m told by a good source, is seeking to offer an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus spending bill that would strike $26 million worth of earmarks for projects or for clients of the PMA Group. “None of the funds made available under this Act may be obligated or otherwise expended for any congressionally directed spending item for any client of a lobbying firm under Federal investigation, including the PMA Group,” says the amendment, of which I’ve seen a copy.
But thus far, the source said, Democrats in Congress were blocking the proposal. Which is no surprise since PMA Group makes the overwhelming share of its political contributions, and maintains the closest ties, with the majority party.
