(Ted) Stevens fears impact of current probe

Yahoo News ^ | July 9, 2007 | LARRY MARGASAK and MATT APUZZO

[Clintonfatigued]

Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator and once the chief power broker for dispensing federal dollars, says he's worried that a corruption investigation "could cause me some trouble" in running for re-election next year.

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The 83-year-old Alaska Republican has drawn Justice Department scrutiny over a renovation project in 2000 that more than doubled the size of his home in a resort town surrounded by glaciers.

The remodeling was overseen by Bill Allen, a contractor who has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state legislators. Allen is founder of VECO Corp., an Alaska-based oil field services and engineering company that has reaped tens of millions of dollars in federal contracts.

Allen is cooperating with the FBI, and investigators appear to be looking at whether VECO got anything in return for the home improvement help.

Sen. Stevens, who has served since 1968, has been caught up in a larger probe that included FBI raids last summer at offices of six Alaska legislators — including Stevens' son, Ben, who was then the president of the state Senate.

[Clintonfatigued]

No one is forcing Ted Stevens to seek reelection.

[bilhosty]

I guess he is just going to have to take a long walk on his bridge to no where.

[digger48]

Time for new blood in Alaska.

[NittanyLion]

Stevens is an example of all that’s wrong with the GOP. Here’s hoping he either declines to seek reelection or is defeated in the primary.

[Clintonfatigued]

“Stevens is an example of all that’s wrong with the GOP.”

Indeed.

[billhilly]

Does anyone still doubt why millions are required to elect senators? Their salaries are petty cash.

[rlmorel]

If he SAYS it is going to be a problem, it IS going to be a problem.

Everything I have heard about the guy indicates he is a pork king. I won’t decide until I look at the stuff in depth, something I just have never found the time to do.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Loren Leman needs to go for it.

[Clintonfatigued]

Good call, a strong conservative in a state that can’t be relied upon to elect them.

IMHO, Leman is waiting for Stevens to step down voluntarily, in hopes of winning his support and avoiding a split in the party.

[NeoCaveman]

IMHO, Leman is waiting for Stevens to step down voluntarily, in hopes of winning his support and avoiding a split in the party.

Forget that. Run like Palin.

[Constantine XIII]

IT’S A SERIES OF TUBES

[Soul Seeker]

Step down and let Palin appoint a strong conservative challenger then.

[NativeNewYorker]

Stevens is an example of all that’s wrong with the GOP.

Ditto. Ditto. Ditto.

[bmwcyle]

Ted gave this company a 10 billion dollar government contract that is costing you big bucks.

Ted Stevens needs to go.

[Clintonfatigued]

That’s a great idea. It’s not like Stevens needs to serve longer to qualify for the maximum pension.

[bamahead]

I won’t decide until I look at the stuff in depth, something I just have never found the time to do.

Here are a few primers for you when you're ready...

$1.5 million in pork for a bus-stop: http://eidelblog.blogspot.com/2005/05/worlds-most-expensive-bus-stop.html

Half-a-Million to paint a fish on the side of an Alaska Airlines plane (a publicly traded company): http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Politics/story?id=1183436&ROS=true

And of course, the infamous 'Bridge to Nowhere' that Stevens threw a tantrum over: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102001931.html

[bamahead]

pork-king Ted Stevens feelin’ the heat ping!

[org.whodat]

"could cause me some trouble" in running for re-election next year.

It is long time past for old Ted to go build a bridge somewhere.

[LasVegasMac]

The 83-year-old Alaska Republican has drawn Justice Department scrutiny over a renovation project in 2000 that more than doubled the size of his home in a resort town surrounded by glaciers.

The 83-year-old needs to retire.

Times up, Ted. Step aside.