The Circular World of Curt Weldon
by Joe?Pulcinella
Wikipedia has got a great entry on congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) which illustrates the circular way that stolen taxpayer booty eventually comes back to benefit the guy who gave it out in the first place.
Itera International Energy Corporation, a Russian company, was Solutions' first client. In May 2002, Curt Weldon had led a congressional delegation to Russia and visited Itera. At the beginning of September, Itera paid the expenses for a trip he made to New York City. The next week, Itera told Karen Weldon it would sign a contract with SNA. On September 24, Curt Weldon co-hosted an event at the Library of Congress honoring Itera's chairman. On September 26, Weldon gave a floor speech praising Itera. On September 30, SNA received a a $500,000 annual contract with Itera, with $170,000 up front. In November, Itera paid for Karen to join her father on a trip to Eastern Europe and Russia. In January 2003, Itera opened U.S. offices in Jacksonville, Fl., paying for Representative Weldon to attend the opening.
The list of controversies goes on and on. Now, don't go thinking I'm singling out ol' Curt. It's just that he's the ruling pontiff where I live. Most of you out there who have had the same congresscritter for more than one term have your own Curt Weldon that you need to fire.