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Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-Daddy) told Lynn Sweet this week how he snagged a seat on the Transportation Committee, which are usually reserved for team players.
As important as it was for him to pitch House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the speaker designate, and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who will be majority leader in the new Congress, Lipinski had to get with the program. Lipinski told me he knew “it is also important to show I am a team player. That is part of that. I am a Democrat, and I am going to be supportive of the party.” That is “part of building up the relationship.”
At one point Lipinski, who likes to bike, took what he said was a 30-mile ride in Maryland with Oberstar. In September, he hosted a fund-raiser for Oberstar at Chicago’s Union League Club. “My father certainly helped on that,” Lipinski said.
He also had been talking to Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) about the appointment. Lipinski had to pay his dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which Emanuel chairs. Lipinski said he gave more than $50,000 to the committee; records I checked showed a few thousand less. “That’s part of showing I am a team player.”
The Nov. 7 election gave Democrats the House and vaulted Emanuel to leadership. Emanuel gave a green light to Pelosi about Lipinski. That was generous, because Lipinski’s dues invoice was for $100,000, and Lipinski did not donate to Emanuel’s highest priority candidates.
Lipinski’s father, former Congressman Bill Lipinski, lobbies for United Airlines.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 10:02 am
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I think it’s disgusting that high-ranking Democrats expect representatives to essentially buy seats on committees. Appointments should be based on merit, not the wealth of a representative or their friends. It’s reasons like this that I am a Green.
Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 10:07 am
Can someone lend me a couple million so that I can buy some influence by showing that I’m a team player?
If’n ya ask a Bear or a Cub, team players usually get paid by the team, not vice versa. Little Lip doesn’t seem to have much practical political experience to be discussing this stuff so openly, eh?
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 11:05 am
I’m assuming, then, that we can expect the Democrats big ethics/lobbying reform law to NOT including any provisions prohibiting family members of Congress from lobbying on behalf of companies that they might be regulating?
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 12:17 pm
That seems like a fair assumption.
Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 12:22 pm
This congressman seems not to understand that you are not to speak of the backroom deals you make with others. What he did is make himself look like the fool he is. Until he learns to close his mouth, he shouldn’t be expecting any more deals with insiders.
We just don’t trust blabbermouths around here.
Talk about naive.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 12:59 pm
I guess his old man can’t treat him for lunch either, if it costs more than $20.
Comment by grand old partisan Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 1:02 pm
Thanks Vanillaman. Talk about being off-message.
Dan, next time:
“Chicago is the transportation hub of the nation and the globe, and Speaker Pelosi wanted to make sure our voice was well represented.”
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 1:04 pm
Yellow Dog Democrat, even better yet:
“Speaker Pelosi is refusing to appoint me to the Transportation Committee because I have not significantly contributed financially to Representative Rahm Emanuel’s highest priority candidates or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which Emanuel chairs.”
Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 2:39 pm
I can’t believe this moronic excuse for a congressman happens to represent me! Wow, I think I may move to another district just to get away from this guy. I really REALLY hope that someone competent, and able to win, runs against him next time. I really don’t want to move.
Comment by NotALipinskiFan Thursday, Dec 14, 06 @ 11:18 pm