Muckraker breaks down the Davis web of influence

So, they've now tackled Tom Davis, pictured here at a press conference on fighting government waste and abuse (ironic, no?) Here is Davis's muck, raked for your convenience:

His constituency includes many of the tech companies most actively involved in delivering those programs to different agencies.

So is it any concern that a longtime friend of the House Government Reform Committee Chairman makes thousands of dollars helping tech companies gain access to federal contracts? Or that he touts his ties to Davis to potential clients -- ties which are pretty strong, judging by the 15 appearances the lawmaker or his staffers have made before the pal's group, as well as the praises the pal's clients sing about the access to Davis they got by using him.

Moreover, the pal -- Donald Upson -- typically doesn't register as a lobbyist for a single one of his clients. And he put Davis' wife on his payroll. She makes nearly $80,000 a year to work half-time from home.

Not enough to raise your eyebrows? Try this: despite his stance as a good-government bulldog, Davis apparently has a reputation among some insiders as a pork-chaser for tech companies in his district. "The businesses in Mr. Davis district are primarily government contractors and he wants to make sure the $$ are free flowing without much regard to the fiscal consequences," e-mailed senior White House procurement official Angela B. Styles to her boss in 2002.

Some amazing details - especially Davis's wife drawing a hefty paycheck (that would be a $160,000 full-time salary) from a boss who peddles influence to her husband and lobbies her husband for government contracts. Think the reform chairman should notice the conflict of interest there?

To top it off, that last bit is pretty damning in an election year - a private email from a Bush administration official describing Davis as wanting free-flowing cash to his business friends "without much regard to the fiscal consequences"? 

I can see the Hurst ad now... 

[UPDATE by Lowell:  See the Hurst for Congress press release on the flip. Rock and roll, Andy! :)]

Hurst Denounces Davis Influence-Peddling Scheme

Springfield, VA -- Democrat Andrew Hurst, candidate for the 11th congressional district of Virginia, criticized Congressman Tom Davis (R-11) for selling unique access in return for campaign contributions and a job for his wife.  The Washington Post reported today ("Wife, Friend Tie Congressman to Consulting Firm," 7/28/06) that Davis and his wife, State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-VA), are involved in an influence-peddling scheme where access and assistance procuring federal contracts are traded in return for contributions to their respective campaigns and a lucrative part-time consulting position.

"I want to be careful not to comment too closely on what is likely to trigger a criminal investigation into Congressman Davis' activities," said Hurst.  "But this is exactly the type of thing that got me involved in this race.  Congress is corrupt and we need real reform to change it."

According to the Washington Post, Donald W. Upson, founder of ICG Government, a consulting company for technology firms seeking government contracts, has used his relationship with Davis to give his clients unique access to the lawmaker, his staff, and the resources of the Government Reform Committee.  ICG has arranged for clients to meet privately with the Congressman, set up dinners and receptions, and arranged for clients to testify before Davis's committee.  In the past five years, technology and telecommunications companies, like those ICG serves, have contributed $1.1 million to the campaigns of Davis and his wife.

Davis' wife, State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, is employed by ICG as a "consultant" at a rate of $6,500 per month, despite the fact that she does only "10 to 20 hours a week" of work from her cell phone.  Despite Davis' claims that his wife "doesn't touch the federal sector," it was revealed that three of her four assignments involve reaching out to federal officials."

"Its absolutely outrageous for Congressman Davis' wife to be employed by ICG when their clients have business before him and his Committee," said James Walkinshaw, Hurst's campaign manager.  "This is a direct conflict of interest and needs to be investigated fully.  Davis has a personal financial interest in ICG's success and it appears he's doing everything he can to ensure that success."

It was also revealed today that ICG client Artel Inc., its lobbyist and ICG crafted a letter to the Pentagon intended to avoid the loss of a defense contract.  That letter was copied nearly word for word, and sent out on Congressman Davis's official stationery with his signature.  When asked about the practice of allowing lobbyists to ghostwrite official government correspondence, Davis responded, "So what?"

"This is obviously just the tip of the iceberg here," said Walkinshaw.  "We'll be calling for a full and complete investigation into Congressman Davis' activities.  The people of the 11th district deserve to know the whole truth about the fact that their Congressman uses his position to help his special interest buddies and land cushy jobs for his wife."

"Our campaign has been focused on reform from the start," said Hurst.  "That's why we have concrete proposals to create an Inspector General for Congress, institute public financing of campaigns and tighten ethics regulations."

Hurst has called for greater disclosure of the financial relationships between members of Congress and special interest lobbyists like Donald Upson.

Andrew Hurst is a partner with the Virginia law firm Reed Smith LLP.  He was recently named Under-40 Lawyer of the Year for his commitment to community service and work with emerging small businesses.  His priorities in Washington will be reforming the culture of corruption, increasing access to quality health care and bringing a responsible end to the war in Iraq.

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