Tester Questions Secret Deal With Former Burns Aide
MT Republican lawmaker worries “taxpayer money has been frittered away”
Montana Senate President Jon Tester of Big Sandy called on Sen. Conrad Burns to disclose his role in a secret $220,000 lobbying deal involving Burns’ former chief of staff and millions in taxpayer dollars secured by Burns for a space research center with almost no accountability.
In Helena Tuesday, the Legislative Audit Committee held a hearing to determine if the Inland Northwest Space Alliance (INSA), which was started with $5.5 million in earmarks from Burns, had fulfilled its mission and spent the taxpayers’ money wisely. According to the Associated Press, legislators were concerned that according to the audit, INSA had not reported its lobbying contract with former Burns chief of staff Leo Giacometto to the university, and were concerned, as were the auditors, that the University of Montana was kept in the dark about the matter.
“This just proves that Jack Abramoff was the tip of the iceberg,” said Tester. “The much larger issue is one of trust. After 17 years living Washington, D.C., Montanans can no longer trust Senator Burns with their tax dollars.”
Criticism of the secret deal with Giacometto was bipartisan. Joe Balyeat, a Bozeman Republican, told the hearing, “It seems to me taxpayer money has been frittered away.” Jim Elliott, a Trout Creek Democrat, said, “Taxpayers dollars, I think, have been funneled in a cozy relationship from one company to another with very, very little result.”
“Sen. Burns obviously works tirelessley for Washington lobbyists, especially his former staff,” said Tester. “But what Montana families need is a senator that will work for them.”
INSA, its subsidiaries, its funding and expenditures have been under investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Inspector General at both NASA and the Pentagon. Sen. Burns’ daughter, Keely Burns, and campaign chairman, Mark Baker, were both members of the Northern Rockies Center For Space Privatization advisory board. Leo Giacometto was paid at least $220,000 by Washington, D.C., software firm Compressus, Inc., a subcontractor of INSA.
Posted on Wednesday, June 21st, 2006 at 3:40 pm.
