House Proceeding 05-07-09 on May 7th, 2009 :: 0:01:50 to 0:05:55
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0:01:49 to 0:02:09( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: the gentleman from arizona. mr. flake: the form of my resolution is as follows. whereas the hill reported that a prominent lobbying firm founded by mr. paul maglio getty on the subject of a federal investigation into a potentially corrupt political contributions has given $3.4 million in political donations to no less

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Speech By: Jeff Flake

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Jeff Flake: than -- i'm sorry 284 members of the congress, unquote, whereas "the new york times" noted that he set up shop at the busy intersection between political fundraising and taxpayer pend spending. direing tens of millions of dollars of in-- in contributions to lawmakers while steering hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks back to his clients,

0:02:31 to 0:02:54( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: unquote. whereas a guest columnist recently highlighted in roll call that, quote, what the firm's example reveals most clearly is the potentially contributions and earmarks. even the most ardent earmarker should want to avo the

0:02:55 to 0:03:15( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: appearance of such pay to play. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the gentleman from arizona. mr. flake: even the most ardent earmarkers should want to avoid the appearance of such a pay to play system. whereas multiple press reports have noted questions related to campaign contributions made by

0:03:16 to 0:03:37( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: or on behalf of the firm, includinquestions related to strawmen contributions. the reimbursement of employees for political giving, pressure on clients to give, a suspicious pattern of giving, and the timing of donations relative to legislative activity. whereas roll call has taken note of the timing of contributions for employees of the firm, the firm and its clients when it

0:03:38 to 0:03:58( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: reported that they, quote, have ovided thousands of dollars worth of political contributions to key members in close proximity to legislative activity, suches the deadline for earmark request letters and passage of a spending bill. whereas the associated press highlighted the quote, huge amounts of political donation from the firm and its clients to

0:03:59 to 0:04:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: select members and not that, quote, those political donations followed a distinct pattern. the giving is especially heavy in march which i submitting written earmark requests. whereas clients of the firm received at least $300 million worth of earmarks in fiscal year 2009 appropriations legislation. including several that were

0:04:20 to 0:04:41( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: approved even after news of the f.b.i. raid of the firm's offices and justice department investigation into the firm was well-known. whereas the associated press reported that, quote, the f.b.i. says the investigation is continuing. highlighting the close ties and special interest spending provisions known as earmarks and the raising of campaign cash, unquote. whereas the persistent media attention focused on questions

0:04:42 to 0:05:03( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: about the nature and timing ever campaign contributions related to the firm as well as reports of the justice department conducting research on earrks and campaign contributions, concerned about the integrity of congressional proceedings and dignity of this institution. now therefore be it resolved that. a, the committee on standards of official conduct or a designated by the com

0:05:04 to 0:05:24( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: its members appointed by the chairman and ranking member shall immediately begin an investigation into the relationship between the source and timing of past earmark contributions to members of the house related to the raided firm and earmark requests made by members of the house on behalf of clients of the raided firm. b, the clients -- committee on standards of official conduct

0:05:25 to 0:05:45( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: shall submit a report of its findings to the house of representatives within two months after the date of the adoption of this resolution. the speaker pro tempore: under rule 9, the resolution offered from the floor by a member than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the house has immediate precedent only at a

0:05:46 to 0:05:55( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: time designated by the chair within two legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed. pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from arizona will appear in the record at