Burnt Orange Report

Craddick, DeLay get more bad PR

By Byron LaMasters

Oliver Willis and The Raw Story have the scoop on a story by the National Journal that will report that Tom DeLay violated House rules:

The prominent lawyer and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is being investigated by federal authorities for his lobbying efforts of an Indian tribe and his relations with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), paid for DeLay and DeLay’s staff’s stay in an expensive London hotel in mid-2000.

National Journal has obtained a copy of an expense voucher that Abramoff filed the law firm where he was then a leading lobbyist, Stone reports.

“Among the big-ticket expenses that Abramoff listed for reimbursement was a bill for the DeLays at the Four Seasons Hotel in London in the amount of $4,285.35,” Stone writes. “The voucher shows that the total reimbursement for expenses was $13,318.50. For some reason, it shows that both Abramoff and Buckham were owed that amount. [...]

House rules stipulate that members or members’ employees cannot accept payment from a registered lobbyist to cover travel costs.

Turning to Tom Craddick, Vince reported on Political State Report that Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick has been subpoenaed to testify in lawsuit against TRMPAC for their election activities in 2002. Kuff and The Daily DeLay have more.