Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) has set up a legal-defense fund as the FBI investigates his ties to imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff. (The Hill) Feeney was one of three congressmen to accompany Abramoff on a golf trip to Scotland:
"The others are: former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who is serving prison time for corruption, and former House Republican leader Tom DeLay, indicted in Texas for alleged improper fundraising, is under investigation." (St. Petersburg Times)
One group listed Feeney among Congress's 20 most-corrupt members, citing various (alleged) house ethics violations, including inaccurate reporting and trips funded by foreign lobbyists (BeyondDelay.org)....
As a Floridian, I remember Feeney's contribution to Florida's Texas-like congressional-redistricting mess while he was in the state House, which created a district for Feeney. (St. Pete Times)
As Speaker of Florida's House, Feeney sought in 2000 to certify the state's Republican presidential electors while the recount was still in progress. (U.S. News & world Report). In 2001, Feeney reprimanded fellow Republican State Rep. Nancy Argenziano (R) after she sent a 25-pound box of manure to a seemingly deserving lobbyist.
Argenziano was pushing for higher-quality nursing home care, while the lobbyist pushed for higher nursing home profits. Many Floridians, including then-state Attorney General Bob Butterworth, wrote support letters to Argenziano. Feeney's reprimand came only after the lobbyist complained. (St. Pete Times)
The list of Feeney's sins goes on and on (see Sourcewatch). The Orlando Sentinel's blog has a reader comment below that represents how many Floridans feel about Feeney:
"My well-known employer attempted to pressure me to donate to this fascist creep's political campaign. Can I donate to a fund to prosecute him? My check book is wide open for that."
A FUND A FUND SET UP TO PROSECUTE THIS BASTARD WOULD HAVE MY FULL FININCAL BACKING. K.COLE
Posted by: kathy cole | June 23, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Too Funny. I'm guessing that you're from Florida, too?
Posted by: The Crux | June 25, 2007 at 10:49 AM