« Conservatives Look For Acceptance | Main | Dems Helping Schwartzenegger? »

August 18, 2006

Another Republican Walks The Ethical Line

Chris Cannon (R-UT) has sought to be seen as an above board Congressman, going so far as to put down a rule in his office that his wife and children cannot lobby him on other's behalf.

Well, apparently that rule doesn't go to other family members. Like, say, older brothers.

But sibling Joseph Cannon leads a team of 10 professional lobbyists in Washington, and he has personally sought help from his brother the lawmaker on behalf of his own clients and got it. Some experts believe the practice is fraught with ethical risks.

As with most Republican ethical issues, there's more to the story than meets the eye.

Christopher Cannon, a Utah Republican who has been elected five times, has a financial stake in his brother's success. The lobbyist owes the congressman more than $250,000 to cover debts from his own unsuccessful campaign for the Senate 14 years ago, according to Joseph Cannon and Christopher Cannon's financial disclosure reports to Congress.

I help out your clients. You get paid. You can pay me back.

I don't know where this is going, but I'm not liking the smell coming out of this office right now.

Posted by Alan at August 18, 2006 05:36 AM