Another Bonner Earmark, another lobbying link
By Bill Allison Feb 23 2008 4:27 p.m.Going for the low hanging fruit first (earmarks in EarmarkWatch.org). So let's look at the $141,000 that the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile, Ala., got in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act.
The school--a public, residential school for sophomores through seniors who are gifted in science and math--employed Capitol Link, a lobbying firm, from 2004 through 2007. During that time, there was no six-month period in which the school paid the firm more than $10,000, so it's impossible to tell from the disclosures how much the school spent on lobbying. It is possible to say that the firm lobbied on H.R. 3043 -- the Labor, HHS, Education appropriations -- by clicking to page two of this disclosure form.
Hopping over to OpenSecrets.org's donor lookup page, I found no contributions from employees who listed their employer as the Alabama School of Math and Science. Running "Capitol Link" in the occupation box, however, turns up $7,700 in contributions from David Staton, the Capitol Link lobbyist and former member of Congress who represented the Alabama School of Math and Science, and Lynn Staton, over a period starting on June 20, 2002, through December 31, 2007.
Again, not a staggering amount of money, but that's two earmarks that went to clients of lobbyists who'd contributed to Bonner's campaigns.
More later...
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