MONTANA: Conrad Burns woke up to a front page headline in Roll Call that read Links to Burns Paid Off. The story outlines how former aides to Conrad Burns have, for the past ten years, used their connections to Burns and institutions associated with Burns to secure over $20 million in lobbying fees for themselves, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in research contracts, tax breaks and subsidies for clients. High tech and telecommunications firms such as Microsoft and Lockheed Martin have paid lobbying fees to at least nine of Burns former aides.Bigtime lefty site, "From The Roots :: Pulling the Bush Out."
MONTANA: Conrad Burns is apparently addicted to lobbyists. A new report reveals that Burns formed a non-profit group headed by his former chief of staff turned lobbyist to promote international trade with an emphasis on high tech and telecommunications. The chief of staffs lobbying clients include communications companies such as Nextel and AT&T. Burns sits on the Commerce Committee and used to chair its Communications Subcommittee, with jurisdiction over telecommunications law. Ethics experts said the move is problematic and rare, since the group the U.S.-Asia Network is run out of the former staffers lobbying firm and has Burns as its chairman. Burns has called the group one of his top priorities. Meanwhile, a study on Montanas two senators found questionable hiring of lobbyists for top staff positions by Burns. Burns is the only one of the two senators to hire lobbyists and start a nonprofit group with lobbyists.
Any leads on sites that do reasonably good senate coverage? NRO Corner hits a few a points, I know, but is more issues oriented.
Hey...you are the king of sources...if you don't know about it...it probably doesn't exist.