Headline
WASHINGTON SUPERSTAR TOUR: CONGRESSMAN BLUNT CONTINUES WASHINGTON LOBBYIST FUNDRAISER BLITZ
For Immediate Release: March 9, 2010 Contact: Ryan Hobart (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125 Jefferson City - Just days after the Washington Times dubbed Congressman Blunt a "Washington Superstar" for a fundraiser with big oil powerhouses, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Marathon and Shell Oil, Congressman Blunt is continuing his Washington Superstar tour with Washington lobbyists (Washington Times, 3/9/10). Congressman Blunt's close connections with lobbyists are well-known up and down K-Street, and he is capitalizing off of them by holding three lobbyist-sponsored fundraisers over the next two weeks (Sunlight Foundation). This adds to the over $300,000 in lobbyist cash he raised in 2009 highlighted by USA Today, which was tops among federal candidates and even surpassed the RNC and NRCC (USA Today, 10/4/09). According to the Sunlight Foundation, Blunt has lobbyist fundraisers scheduled with firms that represent insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, the transportation industry, hedge funds, the American Bankers Association, the American Insurance Association and many others. (http://politicalpartytime.org/pol/N00005195/) Additionally, Congressman Blunt's close ties with Washington, D.C. lobbyists have been highlighted by national news outlets with headlines like: --30--
WASHINGTON SUPERSTAR TOUR: CONGRESSMAN BLUNT CONTINUES WASHINGTON LOBBYIST FUNDRAISER BLITZ
Three high-powered lobbyist fundraisers are set over the course of the next two weeks
Previously, The Sunlight Foundation highlighted Congressman Blunt on their list of the "Top Congressional Partiers" for 2009. Blunt was near the top of the list. In fact, he was in the top five partiers, with 30 parties and fundraisers listed in the Sunlight Foundation's "Party Time" database for 2009.
"It is people like Congressman Blunt who ignore the boundaries between lawmakers and lobbyists that have caused Missourians to resent the United States Congress," said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Ryan Hobart. "Whether he is setting records for lobbyist fund-raising or trying to work on their behalf, Missourians deserve to know that any office Congressman Blunt holds will be controlled solely by lobbyists and special interests."
AP: Blunt, DeLay shared connections to lobbyist Abramoff
Washington Post: House Majority Whip (Blunt) Exerts Influence by Way of K Street
AP: Former aide to Bond, Blunt admits hiding gifts
Bloomberg: Blunt, Boehner Share Broad Network of Lobbyist Ties With DeLay
Congressman Blunt has drawn eight opponents far in the Missouri primary for U.S. Senate.
