Local Government Forced To Pay Patek To Get Help From Cong. Graves

The New York Times reported yesterday that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of local governments that have hired lobbyists to help them obtain federal funding since the GOP took over control of Congress in 1994. And there's a great example of the problem right here in Missouri.

Here's how a fellow from the conservative Heritage Foundation put it:

Ronald D. Utt, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a
frequent critic of earmarks, said he was most troubled at seeing firms
solicit public clients with virtual guarantees that they could deliver
"dollars for pennies" (or billions for millions).

"The mystery to
me is the way they are able to promise returns," Mr. Utt said, pointing
to the revolving door between Congressional appropriators' payrolls and
lobby shops, as well as to lobbyists' generous campaign contributions.
"It goes beyond mere influence peddling to just outright, classic
third-world corruption."

In 2004 and 2005, three local governments hired lobbyist Jewell Patek to help them lobby Rep. Graves' office to obtain federal funding for local projects: Riverside, City of Excelsior Springs and Platte County. Patek is a former senior staffer to Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio).

In addition to his lobbying firm, Patek also has a political consulting firm that he runs with Governor Blunt's brother, Andy. During 2004, that firm, Election Day Enterprises, employed Jeff Roe, who was on a leave of absence from Rep. Sam Graves office.

After the 2004 elections, Roe returned to Graves office, where he presumably worked on funding requests from local governments like Riverside, Excelsior Springs, and Platte County.

There is no word on whether Rep. Graves or his then Chief of Staff Jeff Roe pressured these local governments to hire Patek.

Federal investigators have already issued subpoenas in an investigation into similar arrangements between Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis and lobbyists with whom he had close ties.

Patek has previously been awarded contracts by other public entities, courtesy of the Blunt Administration. Patek has been hired to lobby by the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, the Jackson County Sports Authority, and Southeast Missouri State University. All have governing boards appointed by Governor Matt Blunt.

Lobbying with Patek on those contracts was Ms. Jillian Lair. Lair is the fiance of James Harris, who at the time of the contract awards was in charge of making appointments to boards and commissions for Governor Blunt.