He hasn’t even been sworn in yet, but don’t worry- DC lobbyists and lawyers have already met John Walsh.
As Roll Call reports:
The Washington legal community of lawyers and lobbyists have already had their hands out to Montana’s John Walsh to give him money, and soon to welcome him to the banks of the Potomac.
Walsh picked up $194,500 from PACs in the fourth quarter of 2013, including from the American Association for Justice (formerly Assn. of Trial Lawyers of America) PAC $5,000 (formerly Assn. of Trial Lawyers of America); Sheet Metal Workers Int’l Assn. PAC $5,000; United Association Political Education Committee $5,000; VoteVets $5,000; Common Ground PAC $2,500; Int’l Longshore and Warehouse Union Political Action Fund $2,500; National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. PAC $2,500; AFSCME PAC $2,500; DLA Piper LLP PAC $1,000; Xcel Energy Employee PAC $1,000; Cozen O’Connor PAC $1,000; including $52,000 from other members’ leadership PACs.
Click here for the full list.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Montana State House of Representatives, Mark Blasdel (R), penned a guest opinion column for The Hill arguing that former Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), who Walsh is replacing, leaves behind a regrettable legacy on energy development.
Here’s an excerpt:
In November, Sen. Baucus unveiled a draft tax reform proposal that would have raised taxes on domestic energy producers by $46 billion over a decade. In applauding his tax plan the Center for American Progress (CAP), a left leaning Washington-based think tank, once again repeated the mantra that the $46 billion amounted to “unnecessary tax breaks for hugely profitable Big Oil companies.” It is no coincidence that President Obama just hired former CAP president John Podesta as a White House advisor.
Tax proposals like that unveiled by Sen. Baucus are stunningly irresponsible. They take aim at one of the few sectors showing concrete benefits to a U.S. economy desperately in need of growth. Layering on $46 billion in new taxes undermines not only the energy sector, but the economy at large.
Read more: http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/197704-for-montanans-baucus-leaves-regrettable-legacy#ixzz2sxNtT57a
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Comments
Al Smith
Monday, February 10, 2014 5:07 PM
It should come as no surprise Walsh has met the DC crowd already.
I suspect this entire deal was hatched at the highest levels of federal government even before Baucus publicly announced he was not going to run for re-election.
Although I hesitate to think Max was capable of dreaming up this slick little deal, someone may have suggested he float a trial balloon just to see what would be offered in exchange for cutting him out early. Ah, yes! An interesting little sugar plum called Ambassador. How nice!
Anyway, it’s great when a plan comes together! Obamacare Max is off to China, lacky Walsh is off to Washington, and Montana citizens are left wondering WTF just happened.
Really, if any of this needs explained any further you may be residing in the fantasy land of honest politics.