Rep. Blunt's Relationship With Cassidy & Associates Examined In Today's WSJ

Today's Wall Street Journal has a page one story on the cozy ties between Rep. Roy Blunt and Cassidy & Associates.  They specifically examine the close relationship between Blunt and Gregg Hartley.

Here's a snip:

Financial Aid
Growing Role for Lobbyists:
Raising Funds for Lawmakers

Mr. Hartley and Rep. Blunt
Relate on Two Levels;
Many Become Treasurers

A Skybox at the U2 Concert

By BRODY MULLINS

Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
January 27, 2006; Page A1

WASHINGTON -- Nearly three years ago, Gregg Hartley
left his job as a top aide to Republican Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri to
become a lobbyist. Mr. Hartley began helping companies like BellSouth
Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Viacom Inc. get audiences with Mr.
Blunt and other top House Republicans and win some important
legislative battles.

At the same time, Mr. Hartley was helping his old
Capitol Hill boss raise campaign money and offering him political
advice. Mr. Hartley is now assisting Mr. Blunt in his bid to succeed
Rep. Tom DeLay as House majority leader. For the last three weeks, the
lobbyist has offered strategic advice during regular visits to Mr.
Blunt's office in the U.S. Capitol, according to people familiar with
the meetings.

Mr. Hartley made news in Missouri last year when his firm was awarded a $50,000 contract with the Missouri Realtors to lobby Governor Blunt to ignore the veto recommendations of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and sign a bill favoring the Realtors.

Governor Blunt signed the bill. And on the Governor's latest campaign finance reports, we see that Cassidy & Associates, and their clients, came through with several thousand dollars worth of contributions for Governor Blunt.