Rep. Norm Dicks Named in Report on Defense Earmarks, Campaign Contributions

Austin Jenkins
09/10/2009

Long–time Washington congressman Norm Dicks is named in a new report on defense–spending earmarks and campaign contributions. The Center for Public Integrity says Dicks, a Democrat, is among a dozen members of Congress engaged in questionable relationships with the defense industry and its lobbyists.

Norm Dicks is the number two Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. Washington, D.C.–based Public Integrity says last year Dicks earmarked $2 million for SAIC, a Fortune 500 company, to do "underseas warfare" work in his district. In turn, Dicks received $30,000 in campaign contributions from the company's political action committee. Public Integrity's Bill Beuzenberg says the circle of influence typically works like this.

Buzenberg: "Where a former staff member becomes a lobbyist, has a contract with a corporation, the corporation gets an earmark, the corporation gives a contribution back to the lobbyist or back directly to the congressman."

SAIC's lobbyist is a former Dicks' staffer. Dicks' chief of staff dismisses the report as sensational and notes that no one is accusing his boss of ethical lapses. I'm Austin Jenkins in Olympia.

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