Although he recently swore off earmarks, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Rep. Hal Rogers is still enjoying the fruits of years’ worth of pork-barrel spending for his own non-profit “empire” in his home state of Kentucky, according to a report released by ethics watchdog CREW.
The CREW report, released Tuesday, says that Rogers has helped to procure “more than $236 million from the federal government since 2000” for seven Kentucky nonprofits which he helped found. That sum, according to CREW, divides up into $173 million worth of earmarks, and another $62 million of funds that came directly from federal agencies.
According to the CREW report, many of those federal grants came as a result of Rogers’ direct intervention. For instance, through a Freedom of Information Act request, the group found that he had arranged a meeting between Small Business Administration officials and a campaign donor who was seeking a an increase of a disaster loan from SBA for a marina that he owned. The man had been turned down twice, but the request was approved after the meeting organized by Rogers.
Rogers has also helped the company where his son works, Senture, get federal contracts.
In response to the report, House Appropriations Committee spokesperson Jennifer Hing issued a statement attacking CREW and defending Congressman Rogers’ actions.
“CREW has once again cobbled together half truths and false innuendos to justify wild and untrue accusations. None of this, including this absurd tactic, is new,” she said. “In addition, it is not only appropriate, but it is the duty of any Member of Congress to help constituents navigate Washington’s vast bureaucracies.”