Blunt PAC taps lobbyists for big bucks

Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt appears to have no concerns about calls for reform in Washington. D. C.
Documents filed with the Federal Election Commission by the congressman's Rely on Your Beliefs PAC showed that out of $45,500 in individual contributions the PAC received in May, more than $40,000 came from lobbyists.
In addition to the $45,500, the PAC received $224,500 in corporate and PAC contributions during the month.
At least 20 members of the lobbying firm of Wiley, Rein & Fielding contributed $200 apiece. The firm represents Nucor, Verizon, Kansas City Southern, Qwest, Aquila, Motorola, and Gannett, among other clients.
Other lobbyists contributing the PAC include:
-Michael Bates, lobbyist for Bell South, $2,500
-John Cline of the C2 Group, which represents Pepsi Co and Fannie Mae, $1,500
-Thomas Crawford of the C2 Group, $1,000
-Douglas Davenport of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, which represents Bell South.
-Sarcoxie native Tony Feather of Feather, Larson & Synhorst, whose clients include AT&T, General Motors, Teamsters, and Advocates for School Choice, $1,000
-G. O. Griffith of Barbour, Griffith & Rogers, represents Bell South, Delta, GlaxoSmithKline, $1,500
-Richard Hohlt, lobbyist for Altria, Bristol Myers, Chevron, and Sallie Mae, $5,000
-Brant Imperatore of Barbour, Griffith & Rogers, $500
-Nelson Litterst, former White House aide, now working for C2 Group, $2,000
-John O'Rourke, lobbyist for Securities Funding Associates, $5,000
-Andrew Shore of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, representing Harrah's Casinos, Atlantic City Coin and Slot Service, Cottonwood Financial, State Farm, $5,000
-Karen Smith, lobbyist for Proctor & Gamble, $2,500
-John Veroneau, former aide to Sen. Bill Frist and to former Senator William Cohen, now works for Cohen's lobbying firm, $5,000
It should be mentioned that not only were none of these people described as a lobbyist in the place on the forms for employment, but no employment at all was listed.

Among the PACS contributing to the Rely on Your Beliefs PAC were: Burlington Northern $5,000, American Hospital Association $2,500, American Express $2,500, American Council of Life Insurance $5,000; American Apparel and Footwear $5,000, Capital One Associates $5,000, Cash America International $5,000, Charles Schwab Corp. $2,500, Chicago Board of Trade $5,000, Edison International $2,500, Ernst & Young $2,500, Financial Services Roundtable $5,000, GE PAC $2,500, J. P. Morgan Chase & Co $5,000, Mastercard Employees $5,000, Merrill Lynch & Co. $5,000, Met Life Employees PAC $2,500, Morgan Stanley $2,500, Mortgage Bankers Association $5,000, New York Mercantile Exchange $5,000, New York Stock Exchange $2,500, Northwestern Mutual Life Federal PAC $5,000, R. J. Reynolds $2,500, Sallie Mae, $5,000, US Bancorp $5,000, Wachavia Group $5,000

The Rely on Your Beliefs PAC donated money to three Congressional races, including the successful efforts of Brian Bilbay to win the Congressional seat formerly held by Duke Cunningham, who is in prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes. The Blunt PAC donated $5,000 to that race and $1,200 to the California Republican Party.
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