Thursday, December 11, 2008

Blago & Conaway: Pay to Play Brothers?


In light of Illinois Governor Rod Blagovejich's "pay to play" antics, a review of Representative Mike Conaway's Albertine earmark is in order. John and James Albertine are professional lobbyists. They also started Global Delta, a defense research company in 2003.

The 2008 Defense bill included a $1.6 million earmark for Global Delta. One of the sponsors of the earmark is West Texas Congressman Mike Conaway. His office has an interesting pattern of donations from the Albertine brothers and their spouses as the Defense bill wound through Congress. The Albertine's donations are in italics in the timeline below:

H.R.1585

Title: To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

MAJOR ACTIONS:
3/13/2007 John Albertine of Fredericksburg, VA donated $2,500 to Mike Conaway and received a $200 refund.
3/13/2007 James Albertine of Bethesda, MD donated $500 to Mike Conaway

3/20/2007 H.R. 1585 Introduced in House
5/11/2007 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Armed Services. H. Rept. 110-146.
5/14/2007 Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Armed Services, H. Rept. 110-146, Part II.
5/17/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 397 - 27 (Roll no. 373).

5/21/07 John Albertine of Fredericksburg, VA donated $500 to Mike Conaway, but received a refund that same day
5/21/07 Mona Albertine of Fredericksburg, VA donated $500 to Mike Conaway
5/29/07 James Albertine of Bethesda, MD donated $500 to Mike Conaway

9/30/2007 James Albertine of Bethesda, MD donated $1,000 to Mike Conaway

10/1/2007 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 3. Record Vote Number: 359.

10/4/07 John Albertine of Fredericksburg, VA donated $1,000 to Mike Conaway, but received a refund that same day
10/4/07 Mona Albertine of Fredericksburg, VA donated $1,000 to Mike Conaway

11/26/2007 James Albertine of Bethesda, MD donated $1,000 to Mike Conaway, but received a refund that same day
11/26/07 Anne Albertine of Bethesda, MD donated $1,000 to Mike Conaway

12/6/2007 Conference report H. Rept. 110-477 filed.

12/12/2007 Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 370 - 49 (Roll no. 1151).

12/14/2007 Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 3. Record Vote Number: 433.

12/14/2007 Cleared for White House.

12/19/2007 Presented to President.

12/28/2007 Vetoed by President.

H.R. 4986

1/16/2008 Introduced and passed in House

1/22/2008 Passed in Senate

1/28/2008 Signed by President

2/15/2008 James Albertine of Bethesda, MD donated $500, but received a $200 credit
2/15/2008 Anne Albertine of Bethesda, MD donated $200 to Mike Conaway
2/15/2008 Mona Albertine of Fredericksburg, VA donated $500 to Mike Conaway

Blagojevich and Conaway, two birds of a feather or of the same political "pay to play" school? Maybe not, but something's fishy...

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