Crossposted on Beltway Progressive.
WaPo reported today about the Deepwater Revolving door and pay-to-play politics that jeopardizes the Coast Guard, Homeland security and border control. The story mentioned Phillip J. Perry.
The Perry family of McClean, VA has donated generously to the campaigns of crooks like Bob Ney, Randy Forbes, and Conrad Burns, as well as Tom DeLay's ARMPAC, and Tom Davis. The Perry family donations exceed $50,000.
What did the Perrys get for their money? Perry, formerly a lobbyist for Lockheed Martin, avoids oversight for the contracting out of the Coast Guard; Lockheed Martin is building boats that won't meet functional requirements. Perry got to go through the Deepwater Revolving Door. Perry, a son-in-law of Dick Cheney, was nominated to be General Counsel to the Department of Homeland Security from June 2005 until he left in February 2007.
A significant target of the Perry generosity is Tom Davis (R-VA), who oversaw the Government Reform Committee during a period of pay-to-play politics and almost unprecendented scandal when the Committee set records for inactivity. By escaping oversight, the donations seem like a great investment.
After drafting the law that created DHS at OMB, Perry became its GC, a position he could have used to oversee some of the many problems Lockheed had complying with its contract to build boats that floats on time and on budget for the Coast Guard.
Perry returned to the DC firm of Latham and Watkins in March.
Here are the details of the Tom Davis donations, from the FEC wbsite.
PERRY, GERALD STEPHEN------10/23/1998---$500.00-THE DUTKO GROUP INC.
PERRY, GERALD STEPHEN------05/05/1999--$1000.00-THE DUTKO GROUP INC.
PERRY, ANNE POWERS MRS----04/28/2000--$1000.00-HOMEMAKER.
PERRY, GERALD STEPHEN MR.-02/09/2001---$500.00-THE DUTKO GROUP INC./EXECUTIVE.
PERRY, PHILIP JONATHAN MR.-07/16/2001---$250.00-WHITE & CASE /ATTORNEY.
PERRY, GERALD STEPHEN MR.-03/13/2002---$500.00-THE DUTKO GROUP INC./EXECUTIVE.
PERRY, GERALD STEPHEN MR.-12/29/2003---$500.00-THE DUTKO GROUP INC./EXECUTIVE.
PERRY, GERALD STEPHEN MR.-07/15/2005--$1000.00-THE DUTKO GROUP INC./EXECUTIVE.