DC Republican Committee Goes After Evans

The DC Republican Party is trying to become a bigger player in this one party town where they are outnumbered by Democrats by a near 10 to 1 margin. In their latest release they claim Ward Two DC Councilman Jack Evans, Chair the Finance and Revenue Committee has a conflict of interest in working for a well connected downtown law firm that does business with the city.

Here's the press release, dated September 26, 2007
For Immediate Release

Contact: Paul D. Craney
Ph: (202) 289-8005

Jack Evans Gets Paid $332,500
for Double Dipping DC Taxpayers

Washington, DC - City Records show that DC Council member Jack Evans (Ward 2-Democrat) was paid $92,500 as a council member and reported earning a Patton Boggs salary in 2006 of $240,000 a year, a raise of more than $50,000 above what the firm paid him in 2005. Mr. Evans is chairman of the D.C. Council's committee on finance, overseeing the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer, which is handling the lobbying contract.

Mr. Evan's defense is that he doesn't vote on issues pertaining to Patton Boggs as a Council member. The only catch is that DC Council has never voted on a Patton Boggs contract because the contract does not exceed $1 million a year.

"Mr. Evans is the Chair of a committee on DC Council who oversees lobbying contracts all while working for a lobbying firm who benefits from a lucrative DC lobbying contract. Mr. Evans' actions clearly demonstrate a conflict of interest that taints our political system for personal gain," stated DC Republican Committee Chairman Robert Kabel.

By phone Wednesday afternoon Councilman Evans told me that he "cannot comment on anything having to do with Patton Boggs.

Still on the subject of Patton Boggs;

The Washington Times is reporting that "Lobbyists are billing the D.C. government up to $800 an hour and stand to collect nearly $1 million in fees since Congress decided in 2003 to permit the District to lobby the federal government."

Invoices obtained by The Washington Times through the Freedom of Information Act show lobbyists bill the city for a range of services — from seeking federal funds for transportation and health care to writing and editing testimony for Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and meeting with other lobbyists.

"We've helped the District expand its influence," said Edward Newberry, a Patton Boggs LLP lobbyist for the District. He said the firm has helped secure $80 million to $90 million in federal funds for the city, including money for the District's South Capitol Street bridge project.
Mrs. Norton questioned that assessment.

"Perhaps Patton Boggs has been helpful to the District, but she can see no evidence that Patton Boggs lobbying has assisted D.C. bills," said Doxie A. McCoy, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Norton, a Democrat.