MajorityAP's blog
Posted at 12:00pm on Mar. 6, 2008 REDACTED
By MajorityAP
DailyKos strips Foster divorce records from website
According to Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, founder and publisher of the Democrat activist website DailyKos, “tens of thousands of regular Americans have used Daily Kos to lend their voice to a political world once the domain of the rich, connected, and powerful.”
But sometimes, it seems, even liberals need to appease the rich, connected and powerful.
Within hours of a majorityap.com report that a DailyKos user had posted court records from the contentious divorce proceedings of Illinois millionaire Bill Foster, the link was deleted.
Foster is the Democrat candidate in the race to succeed former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. A special election will be held Saturday, March 8, to fill the remainder of Hastert’s term.
Read on . . .
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Posted at 9:36pm on Feb. 22, 2008 Court records say Democrat Congressional candidate abused wife
By MajorityAP
Illinois millionaire Bill Foster said to be holding ex-wife “hostage”
Portraying a warm and fuzzy family image is nothing new for politicians seeking to curry favor with voters. But Illinois Democrat Bill Foster, seeking election to Congress in the district once held by former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, has taken things a step further – boasting on his campaign website of the amicable relationship he enjoys with his ex-wife, who divorced him in 1996.
“Bill and Ann are both very proud of remaining on good terms and making things as easy as possible for their kids,” Foster wrote on his candidate biography.
But according to Illinois court records obtained by the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com), the Foster’s were far from being “on good terms” during their testy divorce proceedings.
In fact, in a motion filed in Circuit Court in Kane County, his then-wife Ann claimed, under oath, that Foster “pushed, shoved and caused physical abuse and emotional harm…putting her in fear for herself (and the couple’s) minor children.” Ann Foster asked the court to remove her husband from the home they shared, and that the court “issue a temporary restraining order against (Bill Foster) from calling, harassing or touching (Ann Foster).”
Read on . . .
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Posted at 1:43pm on Feb. 20, 2008 U.S. Rep. Murphy defends $100,000 book advance
By MajorityAP
Freshman Democrats tells audience: “I wish it was a whole lot more.”
PHILADELPHIA – PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA, Monday night defended the $100,000 advance he received for his now-released memoir, “Taking the Hill,” telling audience members gathered at the National Constitution Center “I wish it was a whole lot more.”
Murphy kicked off a weeklong series of public appearances promoting his book before a polite audience of about 150, comprised mostly of anti-war activists and students of moderator Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky’s government class.
The Constitution Center had hoped to charge a $15 admission for the event, but the fee was waived after a lack of public interest.
Read on . . .
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Posted at 4:50pm on Dec. 8, 2007 NBC Lawyer who nixed troop ad gives generously to Congressional Democrats
By MajorityAP
The Majority Accountability Project has found that the NBC lawyer who refused to allow a non-profit group to air an advertisement thanking American troops for their service has donated at least $45,000 to a host of Congressional Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and the campaign committees of House and Senate Democrats.
According to a Fox News report, Richard Cotton, the general counsel for NBC/Universal, was one of two network officials who decided not to sell ad time to Freedom’s Watch, which describes itself as “a nonpartisan movement dedicated to preserving, protecting, and defending conservative principles and promoting a conservative agenda.”
Freedom’s Watch prepared a series of television ads thanking American troops stationed abroad for “their service and for spending time away from their family and friends this Holiday season.” The ads will run from December 6 until December 21, and while CNN and Fox are both airing the group’s commercials, NBC refused to sell airtime on their cable networks, MSNBC and CNBC.
Read on . . .
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Posted at 11:38am on Dec. 6, 2007 Another year, another broken promise
By MajorityAP
Ignoring 2007 schedule, House Democrats will take even more time off next year
If you believe the check is in the mail, and I’m from the government and here to help, then you probably believe Democrats’ now year-old promise that the
House of Representatives honored its promise of five day workweeks.
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Posted at 2:53pm on Nov. 30, 2007 The Congress of their discontent
By MajorityAP
Democrat freshmen express open frustration with do-nothing Congress
For those not traveling the world at taxpayer expense, the House of Representatives’ two-week long Thanksgiving recess is giving members of Congress a chance to meet with constituents, and learn more about why their approval ratings are the lowest they’ve been since Gallup Poll first began tracking public opinion of Congress in 1974.
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Posted at 4:56pm on Nov. 28, 2007 U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy skips tax payments
By MajorityAP
U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA, made $100,000 in a controversial deal to write his 33-year-old life’s story and has $1.1 million in his campaign treasury. Despite being flush with cash, the freshman Democrat still hasn’t paid his tax bill from the 2006 campaign, research by the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) has found.
According to records filed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), Murphy owes the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue $2,244.18, the state of New Jersey $312.35, and the First National Bank of Newtown $21,426.47 all for payroll taxes from last year’s election. Murphy first reported the debt on March 14, 2007. While he’s paid off other campaign debt, Murphy is yet to make any payments toward the outstanding tax balance.
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Posted at 5:25pm on Nov. 9, 2007 Democrat freshmen side with party leaders’ over veterans
By MajorityAP
Nation’s vets pawns in House Democrats’ political strategy
While a slew of Democrat House freshmen have offered high praise for a bill to fund veterans’ health care and other services, none appear willing to break with their party’s leadership to force a vote on the measure.
Sources tell the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) that a 2008 appropriations bill for veterans’ services and military construction has been ready “for weeks;” but that appropriations chair David Obey, D-WI, was stymied in his efforts to bring the measure to the House floor. Senior Democrats, led by Conference Chair Rahm Emanuel, D-IL, those sources say, have held that and other spending bills hostage in a high stakes budget showdown with President Bush.
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Posted at 6:30pm on Nov. 5, 2007 Lobbyists, contractors pony up for embattled Mollohan
By MajorityAP
Constituents desert 13-term Democrat Congressman
While West Virginians appear reluctant to part with dollars to support their embattled Congressman, U.S. Representative Alan Mollohan, lobbyists and federal contractors are more than willing to pick up the slack, a review of Federal Elections Commission (FEC) records by the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) has shown.
In what may be unprecedented in Congressional fundraising history, Mollohan did not report a single contribution from the Mountain State for the three-month period ending June 30, 2007. During that same time - between April 1 and June 30, 2007 - federal lobbyists gave Mollohan more than $40,340.00.
Since the beginning of 2007, federal lobbyists and lobby firms contributed at least $67,143 to the 13-term West Virginia Democrat. Contractors and others receiving federal money added an additional $82,800 to Mollohan’s re-election committee.
Read on . . .
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Posted at 5:45pm on Nov. 1, 2007 P.A.I.D. Leave
By MajorityAP
Board of Directors disappear from Murtha-backed charity
Following increased public scrutiny of a controversial charity linked to U.S. Representative Jack Murtha, D-PA, the group’s board of directors mysteriously vanished from the organization’s website, the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) has learned.
The Pennsylvania Association for Individuals with Disabilities (PAID) - headed by a longtime Murtha aide and created with federal money garnered by the scandal-plagued Congressman - claims to help the disabled find employment.
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Posted at 2:04pm on Oct. 9, 2007 Democrat CHI(P)canery
By MajorityAP
Research raises question about family at center of debate
The Baltimore family Congressional Democrats used as spokesmen for the working poor own at least two city properties valued at more than $423,000 and have two of their children enrolled in a tony private school with a yearly tuition of nearly $20,000 per student, Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) research has found.
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Posted at 3:58pm on Sep. 13, 2007 Murtha-backed charity involved in questionable activities
By MajorityAP
Charity for the disabled spending donations on voter registration
When Carmen Scialabba, the longtime aide to controversial U.S. Representative Jack Murtha, D-PA, was quizzed about his role with the Pennsylvania Association for Individuals with Disabilities (PAID), he snapped at the Washington Post’s Jonathan Weisman that "everyone's trying to make this a political thing, and it makes me very mad.”
But a review by the Majority Accountability Project (majorityap.com) of records PAID is required to file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) suggests much of the group’s activities are in fact political, and they could very well directly benefit Murtha.
Read on . . .
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Posted at 6:39pm on Sep. 12, 2007 Murtha-linked charity coming to DC for shakedown
By MajorityAP
A controversial charity linked to U.S. Representative Jack Murtha, D-PA, will be in the Washington, DC, area later this month, where they will hold a pricey golf tournament favored by defense lobbyists and contractors, the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) has learned.
An invitation obtained by majorityap.com reports that the Pennsylvania Association for Individuals with Disabilities (PAID) will sponsor a charity golf tournament priced at upwards of $10,000 on September 24, 2007, at the Argyle Country Club in Silver Springs, MD.
The group first came under fire in December, 2006, after the Washington Post reported “PAID has become a gathering point for defense contractors and lobbyists with business before Murtha's defense appropriations subcommittee, and for Pennsylvania businesses and universities that have thrived on federal money obtained by Murtha.”
The main named sponsor of last year’s tournament was Applied Ordnance Technology, which has seen its share of federal funding skyrocket after the company opened an office in Johnstown, PA, at the behest of Murtha.
Read on . . .
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Posted at 5:20am on Aug. 25, 2007 Hoyer report notes lack of freshmen achievements
By MajorityAP
Majority Leader releases odd list of legislative victories by new members
Freshman U.S. Representative Brad Ellsworth’s, D-IN, biggest achievement since coming to Congress appears to have been winning a Capitol Hill beauty contest, while Kentucky Democrat John Yarmuth’s first eight months in office would have been meaningless had the University of Louisville not won the 2007 Orange Bowl back in January.
That’s the conclusion drawn from a Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) review of a recent report compiled by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD, detailing the collective achievements of the Democrat freshmen class in the 110th Congress.
Entitled “Effective, Productive and Independent,” Hoyer’s report boasts “42 Democratic Freshmen make big impact in their first 7 months.” But Hoyer’s list of those who have been “extraordinarily effective and productive" includes only 34 members.
Read on . . .
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Posted at 7:09pm on Aug. 20, 2007 Is Harry Reid at the chicken ranch today?
By MajorityAP
Senate Majority Leader scheduled to appear with accused brothel manager
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, is scheduled to appear today as the keynote speaker at a fundraiser with a former brothel executive and alleged fugitive, according to an invitation posted on the website of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) has found.
Kristian Forland resigned late last week as a Nevada coordinator for the Presidential campaign of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson after media reports surfaced that Forland was wanted on a felony arrest warrant in California. The warrant was issued after Forland failed to appear in Los Angeles County Court, charged with four counts of writing bad checks.
“Forland also was arrested twice, once last year and again last month, in his home of Elko, Nev., on a similar bad check charge out of Las Vegas,” the Associated Press reported August 16, 2007.
Read on . . .
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