Notwithstanding FBI Raid, Earmarks OK’d

The $410 billion spending bill passed by the House evidently includes $8.8 million in earmarks sought by clients of The PMA Group, a lobying firm raided by the FBI, according to this article.  The article mentions Rep. Mike Doyle, Rep. Tim Ryan, and Rep. Pete Visclosky.

One lawmaker who sought a project for one of the 11 PMA clients was Democratic Rep. Pete Visclosky of Indiana, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water.

Visclosky received $23,000 in campaign donations from PMA employees around the time he wrote a letter last March seeking money for NuVant Systems Inc. of Crown Point, Ind., which develops and licenses advanced fuel cell components. It was awarded $951,500 in the bill that passed Wednesday.

Visclosky has said he will turn over to the Treasury at least $18,000 in contributions from donors tied to PMA.

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