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The non-partisan watchdog CREW made official what we've suspected: that both of our congressmen, Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass are among the 14 most corrupt of over 500 members of Congress.
Perhaps this renewed scrutiny into Frank Guinta's campaign mystery money (still unresolved by FEC) can bring needed press attention to a more recent matter.
Union Leader, August 26, 2011:
Guinta mentioned that he had contacted several national groups for money and that he had been hoping "to get up to $100,000 from the Republican Governors Association [for the NHGOP]," the source said.
The question here is whether the Union Leader's source inadvertently revealed illegal activity by Guinta for soliciting well beyond the federal campaign limit. Even if that solicitation was for NHGOP and not his own re-election campaign.
From Mother Jones, key piece of information on a related issue. This concerns a loophole scheme for federal officeholders to solicit unlimited funds for super-PACs, which in turn could then spend unlimited amounts in their districts bashing their opponents (quite analogous to state party spending):
Last week, the campaign finance watchdog's top attorneys quietly released a draft opinion declaring that Bopp's plan violates campaign finance law. Specifically, the attorneys pointed to the McCain-Feingold law, which bans elected officials and candidates from soliciting "soft money," or unlimited campaign contributions, in connection with a federal election. The attorneys added that it's OK for federal officials to appear and speak at fundraisers where unlimited cash is being raised, so long as they don't directly solicit it themselves.
Oh, did I forget to mention that the current RGA chair is Bob McDonnell, who is headlining a huge fundraiser for NHGOP days from now? And the previous chairman, who left the post recently because of his presidential run, is Rick Perry?
They both were! That's right. Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta were named two of the most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). CREW's annual report on congressional corruption identifies 14 members whose actions violated the law or who otherwise engaged in serious misconduct. Both of the Granite State's Republican congressmen made the select list.
Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH) fudged the numbers and cooked the books to buy a seat in Congress. Beginning in 2009, Rep. Guinta made several shady loans to his campaign committee, claiming the money was his own despite an income that seemed to preclude that possibility. ...
"It is impossible to believe Rep. Guinta simply 'forgot' about a bank account with over $250,000 - by far his largest asset. He's not exactly Bill Gates," said [CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan]. "It just goes to show, there's really no line Rep Guinta won't cross to land a seat in Congress."
Politics is a family affair for Rep. Charles "Charlie" Bass (R-NH), who abused his office to seek preferential treatment for his nephew's business New England Wood Pellet (NEWP), a New Hampshire-based company that produces wood pellet fuel for use in heating systems. Rep. Bass also appears to have lied on his personal financial disclosure forms about his interest in the company. ...
"Members of Congress should be working on behalf of their constituents not themselves or their family members. It seems some members really are just out for themselves," said Ms. Sloan. "This is exactly the kind of thing that makes Americans believe members of Congress are just out for themselves."
I was not at all surprised to learn that there are 88 more senators more powerful than our John E. Sununu.
But I was a bit taken aback by this second place showing:
THE TOP 5 SENATORS
Sixteen senators paid family members for working with their campaigns from 2001 to 2006. Here are the top five.
1. Jim Bunning, R-Ky, paid his daughter, Amy Towles, $138,933.
2. John Sununu, R-N.H., paid his brother James Sununu $81,037.
I suppose it's good to be good at something, even if in this case it was being good at keeping campaign donations in the family.
The article I link to is from a state newspaper in Idaho that ran a full article questioning why the number three senator, Mike Crapo, had given a family member even less than what John E. gave James. (HINT)
Also, the report containing this accounting from FEC filings, and written up by the good folks at CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington), can be found here. In addition to around 53 grand in 2002, brother James has received salary of six to eight thousand dollars for each year from 2003 to 2006.
