CA: Feds looking at land deal involving (R-CA Congressman) Jerry Lewis

Federal investigators probing Rep. Jerry Lewis' ties to lobbyists are looking into a land deal that put nearly 41 pristine acres in the congressman's neighborhood off-limits to developers, The Associated Press has learned.

The land was given to the city of Redlands by Jack and Laura Dangermond, who have donated generously to Lewis. The Dangermonds founded and run a company Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc. of Redlands that has gotten tens of millions of dollars' worth of contracts through the powerful House Appropriations Committee that Lewis, a Republican, now chairs.

The land, some of which sits directly across from Lewis' home, is part of a scenic canyon in one of Redlands' wealthiest neighborhoods. Keeping the land free of development helps ensure property values remain high.

A spokeswoman for Lewis' attorneys said the congressman was unaware the Dangermonds owned the land and did not know the terms under which it was given to the city.

The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, which is leading the Lewis investigation, and a spokeswoman for the FBI had no comment on the land deal.

Peter Tsamous sold the land, and another piece of property, to the Dangermonds for more than $2 million in early 2001. He told the AP he was questioned about it by an FBI agent last month.

Tsamous said he asked the agent why federal authorities were interested in the deal. He said the agent answered: "There's a congressman that lives in the area."

The Dangermonds donated the land in September 2001, about six months after buying it. The transaction, handled through a company owned by the couple, was contingent on the city agreeing to keep the property as open space or parkland.

The Lewis investigation comes amid other federal probes into connections between Washington lobbyists, their clients and the awarding of government contracts. No charges have been filed in the Lewis investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing.

ESRI has received one of at least 10 subpoenas issued as federal authorities look into why counties, towns and businesses in Lewis' district chose to hire the Washington lobbying firm Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton & White, how much they paid, and what kind of communications the firm and Lewis had.

Before the firm split up into two companies in June, two of its most prominent lobbyists were former California Republican Rep. Bill Lowery, a close Lewis friend, and former Lewis aide Letitia White.

ESRI hired the firm in 2000. The company's account initially was handled by Jeff Shockey, who left the lobbying world last year to work for Lewis as deputy staff director of the Appropriations Committee.

The Dangermonds, in a statement issued through their spokesman, said they didn't know Lewis lived in the neighborhood when they decided to buy the land and donate it as part of an effort to maintain open space in Redlands. The couple said they bought it only because Tsamous insisted the land be included as part of a deal for another piece of property he owned.

"Mr. Dangermond is a landscape architect by training and interested in parks and open space," the Dangermonds' statement said. "He and his family have been active in the city of Redlands' parks for over 40 years. Their efforts have included many other contributions such as park design, open space planning, and the donation of thousands of trees and landscape materials."

Barbara Comstock, spokeswoman for Lewis' lawyers, said that the congressman was unaware the Dangermonds owned the property or had deeded it to the city and that "there's been no discussion about it with the Dangermonds or anyone else."

Less than a year after the donation, ESRI was tapped by the Pentagon's National Imagery and Mapping Agency to help provide software for a mapping toolkit.

The contract came after the defense appropriations subcommittee, which Lewis chaired, provided a $15 million "earmark" for NIMA to acquire the toolkit. That amount eventually was reduced to $12.8 million during House-Senate negotiations on the 2002 defense spending bill.

Earmarks are funding inserted into legislation that often get little or no review. Prosecutors are scrutinizing Lewis' earmarks.

In 2004, ESRI got at least $31.4 million for four federal projects, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, including $14.4 million for the Commercial Joint Mapping Toolkit. In the 2005 defense spending bill the company got $24 million for various projects.

Asked about ESRI's funding, Comstock said the company is the largest employer in Lewis' district.

"It is also the largest mapping agency in the world and one of the top software companies in the world," she said. "ESRI has done business with the federal government for decades and brought thousands of jobs to California."

As federal money flowed into their company, the Dangermonds donated generously to Lewis. In the last three election cycles, they have given more than $23,000 to the congressman and his political action committee, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Keith Ashdown of Taxpayers for Common Sense described the land deal as "part of the sort of dating process" between Lewis and ESRI.

"The property thing, campaign cash flowing ... this is all sort of when the Dangermonds and Jerry Lewis started to date professionally," Ashdown said.

Associated Press Writer Erica Werner contributed to this report from Washington.

Looks like Jerry has some unhappy constituents..

US Congressman Jerry Lewis Voting Records
Negative Voting Record on American Workers and Illegal Immigration:

Voted in support of sanctuary for cop killers 2005
The House sent a stern message to Mexico on June 28 by passing the Deal amendment (roll call 333, HR 3057) , The amendment blocks $66 million in U.S. aid if the country does not extradite suspected cop-killers without strings attached. This is a great achievement in stopping illegal aliens from killing our citizens and running across border for protection. Kolbe (R-AZ) expressed strong opposition before Tuesday night's vote, calling the amendment "shortsighted" and counterproductive! Rep. Lewis again breaks with the Republican majority to vote against the amendment and protect the murderer of deputy David March.

Voted in support of sanctuary for illegal aliens 2005
The King amendment "rescinds/restores" $1 million of Department of Justice funding to be used to enforce 8 USC 1373, the ban on sanctuary policies. Rep Lewis broke with the Republican leadership to vote against. Passed 218 to 208 King amendment to HR 2862 roll call vote number 267, 16 June

Voted in support of sanctuary for illegal aliens in 2005
The Tancredo amendment would have prohibited any city with a sanctuary policy from getting federal funds to reimburse them for some of the costs of providing medical care and other services to illegal aliens. Failed 222 to 204 as amendment to HR 2862, roll call vote number 262. Rep Lewis once again breaks away from party to support law breakers.

Voted in favor of rewarding illegal aliens from Mexico with Social Security benefits in 2004
Rep. Lewis voted against the Hayworth Amendment (H. AMDT 745) to H.R. 5006, the Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations bill. The amendment would have prohibited any funding in the bill from being used to pay Social Security Administration (SSA) employees to administer any benefits that would not be payable but for a totalization agreement with Mexico. The effect of this would be to prevent the U.S.-Mexico totalization agreement from taking effect -- at least during FY 2005 -- since SSA employees could not be paid for any work they do to determine or pay benefits under the agreement. The U.S.-Mexico totalization agreement would allow both legal AND illegal aliens working in the United States to qualify for Social Security benefits. The amendment failed by a vote of 178-225.

Voted against enforcing federal laws against sanctuary policies to protect illegal aliens in 2004
Rep. Lewis voted against the King Amendment (H. AMDT 655) to the Commerce, Justice, State, Appropriations Act of 2005, H.R. 4754, that would have increased funding to the Justice Department for enforcing current federal law against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens. Sanctuary policies bar public officials, including police officers, from asking an individual's immigration status to determine eligibility for public services and from reporting illegal aliens to federal authorities. In 1996, Congress passed a law that specifically prohibits state and local governments from enacting sanctuary policies. Despite that, cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, still have sanctuary policies in place. Maine is the only state with a sanctuary policy. The King Amendment would have allowed the Justice Department to more fully enforce federal law against policies that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and, potentially, terrorists. The amendment failed by a vote of 139-278.

Voted in favor of sanctuary policies to protect illegal aliens in 2004
Rep. Lewis voted AGAINST an amendment (H. AMDT 583) to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2005, H.R. 4567, that would prohibit homeland security funding from going to states or cities that have violated Federal law by enacting sanctuary policies. Sanctuary policies bar public officials, including police officers, from asking an individual's immigration status to determine eligibility for public services and from reporting illegal aliens to federal authorities. In 1996, Congress passed a law that specifically prohibits state and local governments from enacting sanctuary policies. Despite that, cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, still have sanctuary policies in place. Maine is the only state with a sanctuary policy. The amendment, offered by Rep. Tom Tancredo, would have created a huge incentive to rescind the policies that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and, potentially, terrorists, by denying them some Federal funding. The amendment failed by a vote of 148-259.

Voted against an amendment to fight foreign IDs for illegal aliens in 2003
Rep. Lewis voted against the Hostettler Amendment to H.R. 1950, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. The Hostettler Amendment would have put some major restrictions on consular-issued ID cards that are frequently issued to illegal aliens by foreign governments. These cards make it easier for illegal aliens to gain government services and to otherwise profit from their illegal activity. The Hostettler Amendment passed by a vote of 226-198.

Cosponsored bill to increase chain migration in 2003
Rep. Lewis cosponsored H.R. 1954, the Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003. H.R. 1954 would have increased chain migration by allowing the spouse, child, or parent of an alien who was granted posthumous citizenship based on military service to apply for permanent resident status.

Voted against American workers by voting in favor of worker-importation program in 2003
Rep. Lewis voted in favor of the Chile Free Trade Agreement, H.R. 2738. The trade agreement would permit an unlimited number of workers in Chile to enter the U.S. each year as "treaty traders or investors" who are coming to the U.S. to carry on trade between the U.S. and Chile or to "establish, develop, administer or provide advice or key technical services" to the operations of a business in which they have invested capital. Congress is prohibited from restricting the category with numerical limits, labor certification requirements or other protections for American workers. This category is in addition to the number of Chileans who are permitted to come to the U.S. each year under our normal immigration laws. Finally, the agreements also prohibit Congress from placing any numerical limits, labor certification requirements or other protections for American workers on the issuance of L-1 visas to nationals of Chile. L-1 visas are available to "intra-company transferees," or aliens who have been employed abroad for at least one year in the three years preceding application by a business that has subsidiaries or affiliates in the United States. Such visas have been widely abused by businesses seeking to avoid the restrictions on H-1B visas. The Chile Free Trade Agreement passed the House by a vote of 270-156.

Voted against American workers by voting for worker-importation program in 2003
Rep. Lewis voted for the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, H.R. 2739. The trade agreement would permit an unlimited number of Singaporeans to enter the U.S. each year as "treaty traders or investors" who are coming to the U.S. to carry on trade between the U.S. and Singapore or to "establish, develop, administer or provide advice or key technical services" to the operations of a business in which they have invested capital. Congress is prohibited from restricting the category with numerical limits, labor certification requirements or other protections for American workers. This category is in addition to the number of Singaporeans who are permitted to come to the U.S. each year under our normal immigration laws. Finally, the agreements also prohibit Congress from placing any numerical limits, labor certification requirements or other protections for American workers on the issuance of L-1 visas to nationals of Singapore. L-1 visas are available to "intra-company transferees," or aliens who have been employed abroad for at least one year in the three years preceding application by a business that has subsidiaries or affiliates in the United States. Such visas have been widely abused by businesses seeking to avoid the restrictions on H-1B visas. The Singapore Free Trade Agreement passed the House by a vote of 272-155.

Voted FOR Section 245(i), a form of amnesty for illegal aliens in 2002
Rep. Lewis voted FOR H RES 365, which was brought up and passed in a new form in March of 2002. The vote in favor of the bill was a vote in favor of rewarding illegal aliens via a four-month reinstatement of Section 245(i). That is an expired immigration provision that allows illegal aliens with qualified relatives or employers in the U.S. to pay a $1,000 fine, to apply for a green card in this country, and to be allowed to stay in this country without fear of deportation until their turn arrives for a green card years, and even decades, later. The illegal aliens also would not have to go through the usual security screening in U.S. embassies in their home countries. The lowest estimate from supporters of the bill was that some 200,000 illegal aliens would benefit. H RES 365 included language that would implement some important visa-tracking regulations helpful to discouraging illegal immigration. But all of those provisions had already been passed previously in H.R. 3525, making the assistance to illegal aliens the sole purpose of the bill.

Rep. Lewis was one of 275 Representatives who voted in favor of the 245(i) amnesty. The bill narrowly passed by a vote of 275 to 137.

Voted in favor of a four-month extension of Section 245(i) in 2001
Rep. Lewis voted on the floor of the House IN FAVOR OF a motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1885, a four-month extension of Section 245(i), which is a de facto amnesty in that current federal policy did not deport illegal aliens once they applied for Section 245(i) and allowed them to remain in the U.S. for years until they were allowed to become official immigrants. The vote on the four-month extension represented a compromise of the White House push for a longer extension. Even though the four month extension was better than a year-long or permanent extension, it still would have resulted in at least 200,000 more people being added to the country through illegal immigration. Rep. Lewis was part of a 336-43 majority voting in favor of the four-month extension of Section 245(i). It did not become law, though.

Nearly doubled H-1B foreign high-tech workers in 1998
Rep. Lewis helped the House pass H.R.3736. Enacted into law, it increased by nearly 150,000 the number of foreign workers high-tech American companies could hire over the next three years. Although the foreign workers receive temporary visas for up to six years, most historically have found ways to stay permanently in this country. Rep. Lewis voted for more foreign workers even though U.S. high tech workers over the age of 50 were suffering 17% unemployment and U.S. firms were laying off thousands of workers at the time.

Voted in 1998 to allow firms to lay off Americans to make room for foreign workers
Before the House passed the H-1B doubling bill (H.R.3736), Rep. Lewis had an opportunity to vote for a Watt Substitute bill that would have forbidden U.S. firms from using temporary foreign workers to replace Americans. Rep. Lewis opposed that protection. The substitute also would have required U.S. firms to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. Rep. Lewis voted against that. The protections for American workers fell 33 votes short of passing.

Voted in 1996 to continue chain migration
Rep. Lewis in 1996 voted for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment to H.R.2202. It was a vote in favor of a chain migration system that has been the primary cause of annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today. Rep. Lewis supported provisions that allow immigrants to send for their adult relatives. Then each of those relatives can send for their and their spouse's adult relatives, creating a never-ending and ever-growing chain. The bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission recommended doing away with the adult-relative categories and chain migration (begun only in the 1950s) in order to lessen wage depression among lower-paid American workers. The House Judiciary Committee agreed with the Jordan Commission and passed H.R.2202, which would have effectively ended chain migration. But on the floor of the House, Rep. Lewis helped kill the reform by voting for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment which stripped out the legal immigration reforms. Rep. Lewis's vote was important; the reformers were only 28 votes short of approving the end of chain migration. Rep. Lewis helped continue a level of immigration that the Census Bureau projects will result in a doubled U.S. population in the next century.

Tried to create massive new foreign agriculture worker program in 1996
Rep. Lewis voted IN FAVOR of the Pombo Amendment to H.R.2202. He was voting for a massive new program that would have allowed agri-business to import up to 250,000 foreign farm workers each year for a period of service of less than a year. A bi-partisan congressional commission working with the Bush Administration (1989-93) had concluded that there were at least 190,000 farm workers already in America who were out of work at any given time. The federal commission said the oversupply of farmworkers was a major reason why farm workers' real incomes had fallen by almost half over the previous two decades. Rep. Lewis rejected the recommendations of the commission and took the side of growers who asked for a larger labor supply. The amendment -- which had no provisions for ensuring that the temporary workers did not stay in the U.S. as illegal aliens -- failed by a 180-242 vote.

Tried to continue foreign nurse guestworker program in 1996
Rep. Lewis supported continuing a guestworker program for foreign nurses through his vote IN FAVOR of the Burr Amendment to H.R.2202. Those favoring the amendment said many rural areas had a shortage of nurses and needed the foreign workers. The 262-154 majority, however, let the foreign nurses program end, contending that there are more than enough Americans trained in nursing to do the job if the pay and working conditions are appropriate.

If you are not happy with Mr. Jerry Lewis and would like to express your feelings,
please feel free to contact him and be heard! Don't remain silent, our lives and our freedom
is at stake!

CONGRESSMAN JERRY LEWIS
2112 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-5861

CONGRESSMAN JERRY LEWIS
1150 Brookside Avenue
Suite J-5
Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 862-6030
1-800-233-1700 (within California)

Find the Voting records of your Congressman

Cost for California Healthcare for Illegal Aliens $1.4 billion a year!
Cost for California Education for Illegal Aliens $7.7 billion a year!
Cost for California Incarceration for Illegal Aliens $1.4 billion a year!
Jerry Lewis removed from office... PRICELESS!!!!

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