A Republican congressman is calling for an ethics investigation into the connection between congressional earmark requests and campaign cash.
The call comes after U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., denied any wrongdoing with The PMA Group, a once-powerful lobbying firm that is dissolving amid a federal investigation.
The U.S. House is expected to vote today on a resolution filed Monday by Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., instructing the House ethics panel to investigate "the relationship between earmark requests already made by members (of the House) and the source and timing of past campaign contributions."
Though his resolution does not mention PMA by name, Flake referenced it throughout his remarks made on the House floor Monday.
Flake's resolution cites several national media reports about questionable links between lobbyists and congressional earmarks, federal money set aside for specific pet projects.
He questioned the timing of last-minute campaign contributions, made near the times of earmark request deadlines.
The FBI raided the Virginia-based offices of The PMA Group in November. The U.S. Justice Department has declined to provide details on its probe.
The firm -- which works with defense contractor clients -- has been Visclosky's biggest single source of campaign cash since 2003, funneling $179,450 to him since 2001.
Visclosky announced last week that his campaign would return $16,000 from two donors linked to the beleaguered firm, which is expected to shutter by the end of March.
Flake introduced his measure as House members tackle a massive fiscal year 2009 omnibus spending bill that is peppered with PMA client earmarks.
Flake, a determined champion against earmarks, released a tally of at least eight of the bill's earmarks for PMA clients totaling $7.7 million.
About $1 million of that is set for NuVant Systems to develop direct methanol fuel cells, a project for which Visclosky has secured funding in the past.
According to watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, PMA clients received nearly $300 million in earmarks in fiscal year 2008. Of that, $23.8 million -- or about 8 percent -- was requested entirely or in part by Visclosky, TCS data shows.
A spokesman for Visclosky's campaign did not respond to a call seeking comment Tuesday.
