Rep. Visclosky drops private firm earmarks

BURNS HARBOR, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky says he will not request any congressional budget earmarks for private, for-profit firms this year because of the ongoing federal investigation into a lobbying firm that had been his top campaign contributor.

Visclosky, D-Ind., also said Wednesday that he is rejecting $21 million in requests for federal contracts to former clients of The PMA Group, which disbanded last month after the FBI raided its Arlington, Va., offices amid an ongoing investigation.

“There is a controversy that has attached to PMA, and I want to be focused on the problems we are trying to solve in northwest Indiana,” Visclosky said during a visit to Burns Harbor in his northwest Indiana district. “So this year, we are simply not going to request money for any for-profit firms, no matter who those requests come from.”

The New York Times reported Saturday that federal investigators were taking a closer look at the connection between PMA and Visclosky.

The 13-term congressman, who is chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water, has said neither he nor his staff have ever directed federal money to any private vendors in return for campaign contributions to his re-election campaigns.

Visclosky’s office released a list Wednesday of 232 requests by cities, schools, other local government agencies and private contractors that sought $521 million in earmarks for the 2010 budget.

Earmarks, which are special appropriations outside the regular federal grant process, have been criticized by tax watchdogs as being wasteful and politically motivated.