Black Caucus Foundation orders scholarship audit (RAT Eddie Bernice Johnson debacle)

KION ^ | 8/31/10 | LARRY MARGASAK

[Libloather]

Black Caucus Foundation orders scholarship audit
By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer
Updated: Aug 31, 2010 8:09 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) - An internal audit of the scholarship program of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation was under way Tuesday, sparked by the admission by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson that she had steered scholarships to her relatives and the children of a staff member.

The foundation's chairman, Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., said that neither the foundation nor the Congressional Black Caucus "will allow unethical behavior in the awarding of scholarships or any programs that are designed to benefit the community."

The foundation is a tax-exempt organization that is run by its own staff, but with strong ties to the caucus of African-American lawmakers.

The Dallas Morning News first reported that 23 scholarships Johnson, D-Texas, handed out since 2005 violated eligibility rules.

Johnson said Monday that her actions were unintentional, but foundation attorney Amy Goldson pointed out that the students, the lawmaker awarding the foundation scholarships or the lawmaker's designee must certify that the recipients are not related to the lawmaker.

[Libloather]

Johnson said Monday that her actions were unintentional

This didn't happen one time on one day. She could be a career criminal.

[kittymyrib]

“Johnson said Monday that her actions were unintentional...”

And Wm. Jefferson (D-LA) didn’t know how $90,000 got into his freezer, either. This crowd always invokes ignorance when caught. A little jail time for crooked CBC members would help educate them, perhaps.

[Ronin]

My, my, my....

Wonder what other RATs are going to come scurrying out of this woodpile...

[Shaka]

I think we all know what the deal is...but if we say anything it will be called racist. Black control over anything is a disaster wrought with illegal activities. Can you imagine if the Caucus were running America? We would look like Detroit in 2 years time. Sad..but the stream has to be broken at some point..and America does know the truth, they are just afraid to say it.

[Cheetahcat]

Where is the white scholarship program?? NO more brain dead civil rights attorneys/trouble makers are needed!!!!, we need engineers of all disciplines and chemists and Doctors.

[pnh102]

Who funds these racist scholarships given by this racist organization?

My guess is that it is most likely us.

[pnh102]

Can you imagine if the Caucus were running America?

Why yes. Yes we can!

[manic4organic]

Email I just received from the Broden campaign:

'The decision Eddie Bernice Johnson made to award Congressional Black Caucus scholarship money which she controlled to family members and family friends who were not eligible to receive those scholarships is unfair to deserving young students in District 30. Worse, it reveals an attitude of disdain for her constituents and favoritism of family over the people who elected her to office.

Ms. Johnson slowly owned up to the impropriety, first denying favoritism, then admitting that she had violated the rules, and at some point stating that 'immediate family doesn’t include grandchildren,' leaving doubt that she understands what makes her actions wrong.

This is not a one-time mix-up with a single applicant; it is a pattern of abuse covering 5 years and 23 scholarships worth approximately $25,000. It is the behavior of someone who simply has been in office too long, who no longer believes the rules apply to her, and who no longer puts the interests of her constituents first. While Ms. Johnson has said that she will rectify the situation, the simple truth is that the residents of District 30 deserve better. Some in Congress have served honorably for years, but for many, too many years on the federal payroll have led to arrogance and worse. It is past time for new leadership for District 30.'

[Libloather]

It is past time for new leadership for District 30.

I agree.

[personalaccts]

that’s “racist”. How can they do that?

[bill1952]

>An internal audit of the scholarship program of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation ...

Oh, please. That like a tax cheat doing his own audit & presenting it to the IRS.
“See, I didn’t do anything.”

I wager that every single member knew about this.

[bill1952]

>Can you imagine if the Caucus were running America? We would look like Detroit in 2 years time.

Uh, it kinda is.

[Liz]

It is past time for new leadership for District 30.

Pastor Stephen E Broden is running for Johnson's seat.

Pastor Stephen E Broden, right, at Republican get-together. Awarded “Champion of the Republican Party” by the NRCC Business Advisory Council Texas. Served as Republican Precinct Chairman in DeSoto, Texas, 1999-2002”

President of the African American Alumni Association Executive Committee, Founder of Ebony Berean, an organization with a mission to inform African-American Pastors of the “Cultural Wars”.

President of the Fair Park Friendship Center, Senior Pastor of the Fair Park Bible Fellowship.

Husband to Donna W. Broden, father to Jamaal 29, Maia 27, and Stephenie 22.

Graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters of Arts in Bible Studies. Graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelors degree and Masters of Arts in Communication; worked in the inner city over 27 years.

Executive Director, President of Fair Park Friendship Center for over 22 years. Planted Fair Park Bible Fellowship in 1987.

Served as an Adjunct Professor at the Dallas Baptist University from 1990-1992.

[Liz]

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson says she'll repay scholarship funds by week's end
Dallas Morning News | 8/31/2010 | TODD J. GILLMAN
FR Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 7:02:59 AM by tobyhill

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson awarded eight scholarships last year to her grandsons and a top aide's children – bringing to 23 the number of awards she handed out since 2005 in violation of Congressional Black Caucus Foundation eligibility rules. The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday that over the last five years, the Dallas Democrat has awarded up to $20,000 in 15 scholarships to two grandsons, two great-nephews, and aide Rod Givens' children between 2005 and 2008. The 2009 awards – reflected in a previously undisclosed list provided Monday by the foundation – push that above $25,000. (Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...

REFERENCE Each member of the Congressional Black Caucus is given $10,000 annually by the "CBC Foundation" and have a large amount of leeway in how they disburse the funds.

QUESTION Can Congressional Black Caucus members prove where they spend the annual $10,000? The IRS has targeted Foundations as the locus classicus for tax evasion and money laundering.

Cong Eddie Bernice Johnson: "The $10,000 annually?
That's reparations b/c our ancestors were slaves."

[Gabrial]

She was on KRLD radio today saying she did not know it was inappropriate to use her influence to give scholarships to her children’s kids. Riiiiiiiggghhhht.
She said she has given all the money back ($25,000).

She said she has been “working like the devil” for her district.

At last she got that part right.