For Sam Graves, the Newspaper of Capitol Hill Brings Double Trouble

Not one but two damaging stories about endangered GOP incumbent Congressman Sam Graves today from Washington DC's Roll Call.

The first, titled "Federal Cash Rebuilds Airstrip on Graves' Land," includes this bit about Graves' personal airplane hangar in Northwest Missouri:

But Graves' oil-drenched playground may soon become a political liability for the four-term lawmaker, who is facing his toughest re-election battle yet. Rural Northwestern Missouri residents are beginning to grumble about his sanctuary's proximity to a federally financed airport, which currently is being renovated to the tune of $750,000. The critics' contention: that the lawmaker and his friends are among the few people who are directly benefiting from the federal largess.

The story does not make clear whether Graves, who sits on the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, might have personally procured those three-quarters of a million federal dollars with a controversial "earmark."

As if that story wasn't a big enough problem for the vulnerable Graves, Roll Call also runs a story today with the header "Biofuels, Flights Benefit Graves."  That story includes disturbing revelations from Graves' personal financial disclosures:­

At the beginning of October, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) joined several other Midwestern lawmakers in sponsoring legislation to create a national mandate for the use of increasing quantities of biodiesel as a replacement for regular diesel fuel. [...]

But the bill also would be good for Graves’ wife, Lesley, a public school teacher who in 2005 invested $15,000 in a new biodiesel plant that has since become the largest biodiesel facility in the state.

The biodiesel plant is one of several questionable entries on Graves’ financial disclosure forms, including his receipt of thousands of dollars worth of flights on the private plane of a personal friend who is also a contractor with significant financial interests before the committees on which Graves serves.

Sounds like the band is striking up a tune that's mighty familiar.  A GOP Congressman using his considerable influence to benefit himself and his immediate family.  And the culprit is right here in our own backyard.  An awful lot of very inconvenient facts are piling up against Mr. Graves.  Good thing Missourians in the 6th CD have a strong alternative to GOP corruption on the ballot next November.

*While we won't infringe Roll Call's copyright and run these subscription-only stories in their entirety here, check out PrimeBuzz later in the day as they'll likely post the full text.