A $2 Billion Shady Deal In the Stimulus Bill? [Dem David Obey and lobbyist son]

Washington Examiner ^ | Byron York

[RatherBiased.com]

Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are asking questions about the lobbying activities of Craig Obey, who is the son of House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey. The elder Obey is, as much as anyone, the author of the giant stimulus bill that passed the House. Craig Obey works for an organization called the National Parks Conservation Association, which describes its mission as "to protect and enhance America's national parks for present and future generations" and to "advocate for the national parks and the National Park Service."

Now, it just so happens that the National Park Service stands to get a lot -- a lot -- of money if a certain provision in the Obey House stimulus bill becomes law. "Under the House version of the stimulus, NPS is to receive in excess of $2 billion," says a report issued by minority Republicans on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "This proposed figure nearly doubles the National Park Service's annual appropriation, which was $2.39 billion for Fiscal Year 2008." The money would be given to the Park Service, again according to the Republican report, "without regard for whether the agency will be able to effectively absorb such a significant increase in federal dollars.

So there are two questions here. One, did Craig Obey lobby his father's committee on this issue? And two, would the bill give the National Park Service far more than it can deal with?

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I am shocked!

[JimSEA]

Now would he do anything like that? Sincerity just oozes from his pores.

[bgill]

The entire bill is shady.

[mallardx]

And this helps the economy how? Other than creating a few minimum wage Federal Parks jobs, it'll do little. When nobody can afford to visit the National Parks, because socialism is so miserable, will those whose businesses rely on the parks still vote for the messiah?

I'm not spending any money until this clown is railroaded out of office.

[PUGACHEV]

Quite honesty, I'd rather see money go to the Park Service than ACORN or Global Warming studies. A lot of CCC projects from the 30s are still with us today and have been for generations. The lodges in the Shenandoah Park, the campsites at Virginia First Landing Park and hundreds of other projects was CCC money well spent, IMHO.

[AppyPappy]

There is no such thing as “too much” free government money

[ridesthemiles]

David Obey was born shady.

I would not let him walk my dog.

[Servant of the Cross]

This $800+ billion dung heap is the product of David Obey and Rahm Emmanuel mixing a witches brew of every discredited liberal pet legislation not enacted over the last couple of decades.

Perhaps the Alinsky rule "pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it" should be focused on David Obey soon.

[JimSEA]

"pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it" should be focused on David Obey soon.

Yes!!! Of course, there is a rather target rich environment out there just now.

[mallardx]

I too enjoy the beautiful park amenities. I think a separate spending bill could address that issue, though. I see much of this money going to crooked operators, enriching themselves and their cronies. My cynicism probably stems from living in D.C. for a good part of my life.