To the rest of the world, this is corruption: $478,000 donated in Rep. Dicks' name

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The Seattle Times tells us:

"Norm Dicks, D-Bremerton, was named as an honoree in charitable contributions totaling $478,000 in the first six months of 2008. Some say these so-called honorary contributions are one more way for companies and campaign donors to curry favor with members of Congress. Dicks says there's nothing improper about the contributions and that companies don't automatically gain favor with him for donating to charities he supports."

"Dicks says there's nothing improper about the contributions and that companies don't automatically gain favor with him for donating to charities he supports."

So, the culture of corruption in Washington, DC continues unabated.

Congressman, I'm sorry... but there is a LOT "improper" about this backdoor graft. You know it. I know it. And anyone else that can string together a coherent thought knows it. That you allow it goes to the corruptive influence of special interests in politics today, no doubt on both sides of the aisle.


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$487,000 donated in Rep. Dick's name

By Bob Young

Seattle Times staff reporter

Boeing gave $10,000 earlier this year to one of Congressman Norm Dicks' favorite charities, the National Guard Youth Foundation.

So did Boeing's archrival, EADS, the parent company of Airbus.

But that's small change compared to another defense contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, which gave $100,000 to the youth foundation's gala dinner in February honoring Dicks, a Bremerton Democrat, for his staunch support of the charity.

TriWest followed that up with a $50,000 contribution to another charity event hosted by Dicks and four other members of the powerful defense-appropriations subcommittee that doled out $459 billion in contracts this year.

Some say these so-called honorary contributions are one more way for companies and campaign donors to curry favor with members of Congress.

"This is a new stealthy way to retain influence with favorite and most helpful lawmakers. It shows you have similar interests as someone like Norm Dicks and that can be nothing but helpful to your long-term goals," said Keith Ashdown, chief investigator for the nonprofit Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Such contributions are being disclosed this year for the first time. Firms and lobbyists now are required to report when they give money to charities that in some way honor members of Congress and certain executive-branch officials.

Dicks far and away leads members of the Washington state delegation in being named in these contributions. In the first six months of 2008, he was reported as honoree — almost always with several other members of Congress — in charitable contributions totaling $478,000.

The vast share of donations linked to Dicks come from three events: the youth-foundation dinner honoring Dicks and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., for their advocacy; the Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala hosted by Dicks and four other congressmen; and the Prevent Cancer Foundation's Spring Gala chaired by Dicks and three other members of Congress and their spouses.

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