We thought it was just us … from Gov. Wally “the Weasel” Wilkinson to former Ag commissioner Richie Farmer, we’ve always thought Kentucky has been plagued by some of the worst politicians in America.
Turned out it’s not just us.
The non-partisan, non-profit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, has named U.S. Representative Hal Rogers, the Republican from Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District, to its latest list of most corrupt members of Congress.
This is CREW’s eight annual list, and the methodology is exhaustive.
They analyse documentation about members who have violated state or federal laws or regulations, or congressional ethics rules.
They scour campaign financing reports and personal financial documents and media reports, as well as documents CREW obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
This is not just an intellectual exercise for an inside-the-Beltway. CREW list alumni include former representatives Duke Cunningham, Bob Nay and William Jefferson, who all went to prison.
Here’s their take on Rogers:
Adding to the long list of earmarks he’s steered to well-connected campaign contributors, Rep. Hal Rogers has shown yet again that he’s earned the title “Prince of Pork.” The Kentucky Republican earmarked millions of dollars for a Kentucky manufacturer, Phoenix Products, that produces leak-proof drip pans for the Army. The Phoenix drip pan cost an average of $17,000 per unit, even though a competitor says it produces a similar product at one-eighth the cost. Rep. Rogers … has taken nearly $40,000 in campaign contributions from the owners of Phoenix Products and employees of its lobbying firm.
