WP: Charity Tied to DeLay Is Questioned

[DeepModem Mom]

Charity Tied to DeLay Is Questioned
Group Asks Lawmakers To Demand Ethics Probe
By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 24, 2004; Page A19


A public advocacy group yesterday asked each House member to request an ethics inquiry into a charitable organization linked to Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), the latest step in a quickening pace of ethics complaints and reactions in Congress.

Democracy 21 contends that the charity, Celebrations for Children Inc., is a political scheme established to let DeLay raise huge sums from interest groups and supporters to host lavish parties at this summer's Republican National Convention.

DeLay spokesman Jonathan Grella said at least three-fourths of the charity's income will go to needy children, with the remainder paying for dinners, a golf tournament, a rock concert, Broadway tickets and the other fundraising events DeLay plans to host at the convention in New York City....

***

Democracy 21's action is meant to put each House member on the spot -- either challenge DeLay's operation or silently condone it -- said the group's president, veteran open-government advocate Fred Wertheimer....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18960-2004Mar23.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. Incredible isn't it?

Someone questioning the ethics of tom delay.

[Richardo]

8. But wait! There's MORE! "DeLay PACs helped fund anti-rail effort"

$30,000 given to opposition group
By JOHN WILLIAMS and R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Source: Associated Press.

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay remained silent last fall when the Metropolitan Transit Authority put its light-rail referendum before voters.

Money spoke for him instead.

Two political action committees controlled by DeLay gave $30,000 to Texans for True Mobility, which spearheaded a high-dollar effort against Metro's proposal to expand its light rail beyond the Main Street line.

DeLay's donations came as Texans for True Mobility was scrambling to maintain an advertising campaign a day before the Nov. 4 referendum, which passed narrowly.

more at: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2464882

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"Texans for True Mobility" is being sued because they will not reveal the source of ANY of their funding. The DeLay connection came from HIS PACs financial statements.

Note: Rail was approved anyway. Suck on it, Tom. I give you the Arab :thumbsup:. And we all know what that means.


Oh I almost forgot: "You extortionist bastard" ... and see my sig line below.

[reprehensor]

2. :) bump (: n/t

[pw]

3. A mere 25% profit margin

Gee, I wish I could manage that.

[progressivebydesign]

4. I wonder about that 3/4 figure..

More likely, the 3/4 goes toward the salaries of friends and families and GOP donors that RUN the charities for children... I put nothing past those scumbags.

[JoFerret]

5. What an evil scam merchant

.

[Supormom]

6. Those "needy children"

wouldn't happen to be related to Tom DeLay, would they?

[Judi Lynn]

7. Interesting!

I'm giving this two Tom Delay bugs up!