Fewer donors, dollars flowing to Visclosky

[IndianaGreen]

Fewer donors, dollars flowing to Visclosky

By Christine Kraly
Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., is campaigning for re-election with close to $1 million less than he had the last time he ran for his 1st District seat.

Meanwhile, the Merrillville Democrat's legal expenses related to a federal probe of his former top fundraiser have topped $405,000, federal campaign records show.

Campaign finance reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission show Visclosky -- in the middle of summer -- with $692,710 on hand, compared to $1.6 million he had during the same time frame in 2008.

Visclosky's campaign spokesman David St. John did not immediately respond Friday regarding the recent campaign finance disclosures.

The steep drop in campaign cash parallels massive legal costs related to a federal investigation of Visclosky's ties to a now-defunct lobbying firm.

FEC records show Visclosky's campaign spent a combined $99,193 on fees for himself and former Chief of Staff Charles Brimmer since April alone. Almost all of that was for Visclosky's own attorneys.

The latest fees bring the total Visclosky has spent on PMA Group-related expenses to at least $405,389.

The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating Visclosky's ties to PMA Group, a once-powerful firm suspected of making "straw" donations to lawmakers, concealing the true source of the money.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_7b7b0899-1a74-54a3-bafd-8be163123e48.html