WHO: WHO: Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), a co-sponsor of The Employee Free Choice Act (aka Card Check)
WHAT: Costa received the following dirty money: American Federation of Government Employees (PAC) $1,000 in 2008 election cycle; $1,250 in 2006 election cycle. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (PAC) $10,000 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. Service Employees International Union (PAC) $3,000 in 2008 election cycle; $1,500 in 2006 election cycle.
PMA Group (PAC) $2,000 in 2008 election cycle; $3,000 in 2006 election cycle
WHY IT’S DIRTY: Multiple officers and members of these unions, including division presidents, secretary-treasurers and business managers, have been convicted since 2001 of felonies ranging from embezzlement, falsifying official reports to government, mail fraud and conspiracy. The Communication Workers of America and the American Federation of Government Employees have had eight convictions, The Service Employees International Union has had nine convictions and The Boilermakers have had 10 members convicted, while the IBEW has had 14 members convicted. The amounts of embezzled funds range from over $5,000 to over $100,000.
PMA Group (Paul Magliocchetti and Associates) is primarily a defense lobbying group based in Washington D.C. that was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last year. In total, PMA Group’s employees and its political action committee have given current members of Congress $3.4 million since 1989, with 79 percent of that going to Democrats, according to OpenSecret
WILL COSTA GIVE IT BACK: Rep. Costa did not respond to The Examiner’s request for comment.
THE SCORE:
Number of Democrats who have given it back: 0
Number of Republicans who have given it back: 0
YOUR TURN: You can reach Rep. Costa’s Washington D.C. office at 202-225-3341. Don’t know who is your congressman? Go to http://www.house.gov/ and look in the upper left-hand corner. Don’t know who are your state’s two senators? Go to http://www.senate.gov/ and look in the upper right-hand corner.
Dirty Money is researched and written by Kevin Mooney of the The Washington Examiner’s commentary staff
