House Dem Norm Dicks Steps Aside After FOIA Revelations

Townhall.com ^ | March 12, 2012 | Mike Shedlock

[Kaslin]

I am pleased to report that Republican candidate Doug Cloud has finally brought down Democrat Congressman Norm Dicks, ranking Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Scandals surrounding Norm Dicks are long, and deep. However, it was a Freedom on Information request by Doug Cloud, involving FBI files from the lobbyist PMA Group that finally caused Dicks to step aside.

Here is a bit of background on the now defunct PMA Group:

• In return for campaign contributions, PMA group clients received over $200 million in contracts.
• In November, 2008 FBI agents raided PMA's offices and removed records of the firm's political action committee and files from some of its employees.
• In January of 2011, Lobbyist Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Role in Illegal Campaign Contribution Scheme.

Guess who else is in those FBI files.

If your guess is Norm Dicks, your guess is a good one according to Official Wire, in their version of the story One Of America's Most Powerful Congressmen Suddenly Retires.

At the sentencing U.S. District Court Judge T. S. Ellis III called the scandal "one of the most extensive and long-running campaign finance schemes ever," telling [PMA Group Lobbyist] Magliocchetti, "You made this choice for one reason: greed."

This scandal took down Rep. John Murtha, but, miraculously, Norm Dicks skated again.

And it would have likely stopped then and there if not for the tenacity of a Tacoma lawyer and opponent of Dicks by the name of Doug Cloud. Cloud filed a Freedom of Information Act request that the Obama administration denied during the 2010 congressional race to get more of the records.

But Cloud tenaciously responded to the denial with a lawsuit to compel release of records and files pertaining to the FBI investigation of Congressman Norm Dicks.

Powerful, Corrupt Officials Not Easily Dislodged

At long last, and only out of fear of what is in FBI records on the PMA Group, Norm Dicks decided to throw in the towel and step aside at the end of his term.

I supported Doug Cloud in the last election. He was one of only a handful I gave free space to on my blog.

It was not to be. Corruption and power are not easily dislodged.

Doug Cloud Press Release

I am pleased to report Doug Cloud is once again going after the seat of Norm Dicks according to his this press release.

Doug Cloud today announces his candidacy for Congress in Washington's sixth Congressional District. Doug is seeking the position currently held by retiring 18 term incumbent Norm Dicks.

In 2010, Cloud received 42% of the votes cast in his race against Dicks. The 2010 campaign, and its aftermath, ended Dicks career. During the 2010 campaign Cloud hammered at Dicks' frequent practice of rewarding campaign contributors and family members with beneficial legislation. He made the link between Congressional "bailouts" and Congressional corruption. Cloud pinned our economic problems on this type of Congressional arrogance.

"Rewarding your favorites in return for campaign cash is bribery. Allowing people like Dicks to take money from those who earned it and give it to those who didn't has ruined our economy. If Congress picks the winners and losers in our economy, we all lose."

In September, 2011, Cloud filed suit against the Department of Justice, seeking to force release of the agency's FBI investigation files pertaining to Dicks' involvement in the huge PMA lobbying and influence buying scandal. Cloud knew that the Department of Justice position, that the files were not a matter of overriding public interest, was indefensible. The only possible way Dicks could keep the files sealed was to return to private life. On March 2, 2012 Dicks made the only decision he could. His career was done. Cloud explained as follows:

"Dicks was no doubt informed by the Department of Justice that they could not keep the files secret while he was the ranking minority member of the Appropriations Committee. He had two choices, stay in Congress and wait for the files to be released, or leave Congress and claim there was no longer a public interest in the investigation reports. He chose the latter."

Doug Cloud knows what our country and economy needs to prosper. Our country needs honest leaders who understand that our economy cannot thrive by stealing from the public and rewarding political insiders.

"True wealth comes from ingenuity and work. Why make the effort if Congress is just going to steal it from you? If you let people thrive on their own, we will all thrive together," Cloud said yesterday. Personal Message From Doug Cloud

I was aware of much of this in advance of the Cloud's press release, and asked for for a couple of statements. Here are a few select quotes.

Hello Mish

The reason I was so persistent on this issue is because this type of corruption is what is really ruining our economy. Selling Congressional votes to the highest bidder leads to economic disaster because our wealth is given to con men and political schemers instead of naturally flowing to those who innovate and create the goods and services the rest of us desire.

The confidence game run on the public by senior members of Congress goes something like this: "Vote for me so I can keep my seniority. If you don't, the federal money spigot will close to this district. You are beholden to me, and don't forget it."

Mr. Dicks was no exception. Today, the type of blatant influence peddling practiced by Dicks, can no longer be tolerated. The economic injustice of bailing out failing businesses on the backs of productive citizens and businesses has nearly brought this country to its' knees.Corruption and Blatant Influence Peddling is Why Deficit is Out of Control

Doug Cloud is correct. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, no one is served by those taking bribes for votes.

It's time to put an end to corruption and vote buying. Please Support Doug Cloud for representative of Washington State U.S. Congressional District 6, Tacoma and the Olympic Peninsula.

[Lazamataz]

A Bush/Cox ticket would have been very silent....

I wanted Louise Slaughter to run in 2008, and have Al Gore as her running mate.

Slaughter and Gore in 2008.

[MinuteGal]

The public ought to know WHO made the deal with Dicks....i.e. "retire and all your dirty dealings (records, evidence, etc.) will not be released".

Who had the POWER to make a private deal with this crook?

Was it the FBI, the Justice Department, Eric Holder....or Obama himself who doesn't need any scandals coming out between now and next November's general election?

The author of the above article sure didn't do any digging for the answers to obvious follow-up questions by anyone reading it.

Leni

[Baynative]

Dicks was an old line porker. Like Robt. Byrd and John Murtha he had a guaranteed seat secured by scamming the budget to bring home pork for the Bremerton, WA ship yard. As with all greedy people, it wasn't enough. The green movement gave him the perfect opportunity to go beyond the lavish lifestyle and unlimited perks of the beltway and to really pad his pockets and use the culture of corruption to build a future of scamming government and fleecing taxpayers for his sons. Never was an easier mark provided for the grifters of the world than the environment. Who doesn't want clean water and clean air? This was truly an easy sell. He could bring millions upon untold millions home to Puget Sound and all Washington voters needed to do to seal the deal was put his #1 son in charge and hand an open checkbook for lawyer work to his #2 son.

The problem with arrogance and self indulgence is that people like Dicks can become so insulated from reality they miss the obvious. In this case it was a bull dog lawyer who wouldn't let go of his pants leg.

Even as things got serious Dicks knew that he could count on his sycophant supporters at local media services to hush the news. But, when it got picked up by the Washington post and bloggers across the land he finally heard the footsteps catching up with him.

He knows that he will never be taken to account by his beltway brothers and he would likely prefer to feed at the trough for many more years. But, by going away now he may be able to put a blanket over the media clamor and still preserve a future for his sons by keeping eh publicity down so that they may someday saunter up to the congressional teller window and claim an open checkbook of their own.

[null and void]

Huh? I would think this would be a resume enhancement for a democrat.

[bkopto]

The fewer Dicks in the Congress, the better.

[Baynative]

In 2007, Norm Dicks took over as chair of the House Interior Subcommittee, just months before his son David Dicks became head of the Puget Sound Partnership, a newly created hybrid public/private state agency designated to help clean up Sound pollution, but one that lacked any significant funding.

David, who told interviewers he was certain he could get the necessary money to run and expand the agency, was appointed to the post by Gov. Chris Gregoire, who refers to David's father as "a trusted partner, a staunch ally, and a close friend."

David Dicks' agency initially received $500,000 funding from the Environmental Protection Agency. But, as Rep. Dicks would later boast in 2010, "Since then, we've put in $93 million for Puget Sound cleanup in the federal legislation," with millions of it going directly to his son's project.

To some, it seemed a conflict of interest for the father to direct public funds to an agency where his son worked as the $129,000-a-year administrator. As well, some of those funds were mismanaged, said a May, 2010 report by Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag. The younger Dicks' operation intentionally ignored state financial policies, and its errant spending practices "went beyond sloppy bookkeeping," as Sonntag put it.

In one instance, David Dicks hired prominent Seattle attorney Gerry Johnson, a longtime friend and political contributor of Norm Dicks, at up to $478 an hour to work with the Partnership.

To avoid putting the legal work out for public bid by other firms, young Dicks' agency signed Johnson's firm, K&L Gates, to a $19,999 contract - $1 under the ceiling for must-bid contractors. The agency then later rewrote the contract several times until it was increased to more than $51,000.

In the wake of the audit revelations, David Dicks quit the post in 2010 - about the time his father lost the Interior chair (Republicans had just won control of the U.S. House). Young Dicks found another state job, beating out more than 70 other applicants for a $75,000 part-time directorship at the University of Washington's College of the Environment.

[Clint Lippo]

” Dicks was a porker.....” It figures.

[drypowder]

Norm Dicks escapes prosecution by not seeking another term. So for a politician, it is fine to defraud the public by using public money for kick backs then all is for gotten if the politician retires. What ever happened to prosecuting politicians for this kind of illegal activity? Someone needs to file criminal charges against Norm Dicks.

[Carry_Okie]

In return for campaign contributions, PMA group clients received over $200 million in contracts.

One thing about "progressives" of all RINO-Crat sorts: They aren't shy about pay for play.

[fella]

Why didn't Holder prosecute Norm? After all he's not one of Holders’ “People”. Or does the term “Holder's People” have a definition beyond skin-tone?

[Norm Lenhart]

On behalf of all “Norm”’s everywhere, I promise we will unite to remove his club membership.

Eventually people will male the Democrat/criminal connection and vote accordingly. Probably not in my lifetime, but eventually.

[Pride in the USA]

One of Washington State’s most corrupt public officials bites the dust. Good riddance. See post #23 for more.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Baynative.

[lonevoice]

Naturally I’ve never heard of this. The media blackout has been nearly complete. Post #23 is scary as all get out; and it’s scary that this guy was elected to 18 consecutive terms!

Thank goodness for people like Doug Cloud who have the tenacity of a pit bull in going after entrenched Dem corruption.

[hummingbird]

He..he....

Slaughter/_______ can come in wildly useful.

[StAnDeliver]

How come this doesn’t work for Solyndra and Bobo?

[UCANSEE2]

John Fogerty
Fortunate Son Lyrics

Some folks are born
made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they’re red, white and blue.
And when the band plays “Hail to the chief”,
they point the cannon right at you.

It ain’t me,
it ain’t me.
I ain’t no senator’s son.
It ain’t me,
it ain’t me.
I ain’t no fortunate one.

Some folks are born
silver spoon in hand,
Lord don’t they help themselves.
But when the tax man comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale.

It ain’t me,
it ain’t me.
I ain’t no millionaire’s son.
It ain’t me,
it ain’t me.
I ain’t no fortunate one.

Some folks inherit
star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war.
And when you ask them,
“How much should we give?”
They only answer “More! More! More!”

It ain’t me,
it ain’t me.
I ain’t no military son.
It ain’t me,
it ain’t me.
I ain’t no fortunate one.

It ain’t me,
it ain’t me.
I ain’t no Fortunate Son.

Source: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/fahrenheit911/fortunateson.htm

[UCANSEE2]

So for a politician, it is fine to defraud the public by using public money for kick backs then all is for gotten if the politician retires.

Not right, not legal, but history shows that it is fairly common practice.

Which is due to a weak justice system. Laws abound, but do no good without Enforcement and Justice. We need to simplify the law and enforce it unilaterally with 'blind' Justice.

We have lost sight of why this lady is blindfolded.

[Baynative]

good catch

[zeestephen]

Yes, good riddance to Democrat Norm Dicks.

But I’m not sure this article makes a strong case for corruption.

Perhaps this is just an old guy doing what old guys do.....retire.

He’ll be 72 next term.

Maybe he wants to sleep late, draw his $10,000 a month pension, and keep his Congressional health insurance?