Schakowsky defends corrupt earmark process

Below you'll find a press release from the National Republican Senatorial Committee about Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), who nominally represents me in Washington. Oh, there's also some stuff about her ex-con husband, Robert Creamer.

Schakowsky Defends Corrupt Earmark Process, Attacks Kirk’s Good Government Record

Blagojevich Buddy Comes To Giannoulias' Aid To Attack Senate Opponent

WASHINGTON – Earlier today, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) hosted a conference call where U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) hypocritically attacked Republican Senate candidate U.S. Representative Mark Kirk’s (R-IL) record on earmark reform.

In 2008, Kirk followed then U.S. Senator Barack Obama's lead and swore off earmarks after witnessing the culture of corruption that they bring to Washington. But Schakowsky ignored Obama’s calls for reform, and she continues to remain heavily invested in the bloated pork barrel spending process in our nation's capital.

Despite her best efforts, Schakowsky was unable to convince her friend, embattled former Governor Rod Blagojevich, to appoint her to Obama’s open Senate seat earlier this year. Recent polls show that state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) now holds a substantial lead over his opponents in the highly contested Democrat primary to replace Obama.

"It's not surprising that Alexi Giannoulias chose Congresswoman Schakowsky as his surrogate to attack Congressman Kirk today, considering they are both close friends of Rod Blagojevich's and they tend to run in the same ethically challenged circles," said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand.

"Unfortunately, Schakowsky continues to buck President Obama's calls for reforming wasteful earmarks in Washington and she is still heavily involved in the culture of corruption in Illinois," Wilkerson Marchand continued. "Notably, Schakowsky has generously donated thousands of dollars to Blagojevich's campaigns over the years. In addition, her husband – a Blagojevich consultant – spent time in prison for tax and bank fraud."

"As Illinois voters attempt to recover from record unemployment rates and disgraceful state government calamity, they deserve more than Schakowsky and Giannoulias' ethical issues and bloated government spending agenda. In November 2010, Mark Kirk will provide the leadership that his state deserves in the U.S. Senate," Wilkerson Marchand concluded.

Background Information:

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) Bucked Obama's Calls For Reform And Supports Wasteful Earmarks:

In 2008, Then Senator Obama Decried The Earmark Process And Swore He Would Not Be Requesting Them As A Senator That Year. "'We can no longer accept a process that doles out earmarks based on a member of Congress’ seniority, rather than the merit of the project,' Obama’s statement said. 'The entire earmark process needs to be re-examined and reformed. For that reason, I will be supporting Sen. DeMint’s amendment and will not be requesting earmarks this year for Illinois,' the statement added." (Drew Griffin and Scott Bronstein, “Obama: No Earmarks For 2009,” CNN, 4/15/08)

Congresswoman Schakowsky Is A Supporter Of Earmarks:

Last Week, Schakowsky Voted For The $1.1 Trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill That Included $3.9 Billion In Earmarks. (H.R. 3288, CQ Vote #949; Adopted 221-202: D 221-28; R 0-174, 12/10/09, Schakowsky Voted Yea, Kirk Voted Nay; Richard Simon, “House OKs $3.9 Billion In Earmarks In Spending Bill,” Los Angeles Times, 12/11/09)

The Bill Included…
· $150,000 for educational programs and exhibitions at the National Building Museum.
· $400,000 for renovation of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
· $150,000 for exhibits at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation in Buffalo, N.Y.
· $500,000 for Mississippi River exhibits at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa.
· $200,000 for the Washington National Opera.
· $30,000 for the Woodstock Film Festival Youth Initiative.
· $2.7 million for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, to support surgical operations in space.
· $200,000 for a visitor's center in Bastrop, Texas.
· $700,000 for a project called, "Shrimp Industry Fishing Effort Research Continuation," at the National Marine Fisheries Service in Silver Spring, Md.
· $292,200 for the elimination of blight in Scranton, Pa.
· $750,000 for exhibits at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Iowa.
· $1.6 million for a tram between the Marshall Flight Center and Huntsville Botanical Garden in Alabama.
· $655,000 for equipment at the Institute for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research in Los Angeles.

("Watchdogs Cry Foul Over Thousands OF Earmarks In Spending Bill," Fox News, www.foxnews.com, 12/11/09)

Congresswoman Schakowsky Has A "Long-Standing Friendship" With Rod Blagojevich:

In November 2008, Schakowsky Said She Had A "Long-Standing Friendship" With Governor Blagojevich. "Asked if she has a good rapport with Blagojevich, Schakowsky says, 'We do have a working relationship, and we have a long-standing friendship. We really haven't discussed this particular issue. I agree with him on his priority of health care and applaud him for the work he has done as the health care governor.'" (Abdon M. Pallasch, "Schakowsky Makes Play For Obama's Seat," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/6/08)

Schakowsky Met With Blagojevich And Expressed Her Interest In Being Appointed To President Obama's Senate Seat. "Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D) confirmed on Wednesday that she is under consideration by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate. 'I had a long conversation with the governor yesterday,' Schakowsky said late Wednesday afternoon. 'There are a number of people he’s considering and I’m certainly on that list.' . . . Schakowsky declined to elaborate on her discussion with the governor, saying that 'we mostly just chatted,' but the lawmaker did emphasize her electability in 2010, when Land of Lincoln voters will elect a Senator for a full term. 'I certainly think I am electable,' she said. 'That's one of things that I pointed out to him — I have a lot of downstate connections and support from organized labor, seniors’ and women's organizations.'" (Matthew Murray, "Illinois: Governor Talks With Two Members On Vacancy," Roll Call, 11/20/08)

"Schakowsky Served With Blagojevich When He Was In Congress And Supported Him When He Ran For Governor. Her Campaign Donated $15,000 To Friends Of Blagojevich In October 2006." (Daniel Libit, “Ill. Dems Say Gov. Blago Cold And Remote,” Politico, 12/19/08)

Schakowsky's Husband Has Worked Closely With Gov. Blagojevich And Spent Time In Prison For Tax Fraud And Bank Fraud:

Schakowsky's Husband, Robert Creamer, Did Consulting Work For Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "After political activist Robert Creamer left the consumer group Citizen Action/Illinois in 1997 under the cloud of a federal investigation, he turned his sights toward consulting. Over time, the husband of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky assembled A-list clients that included Gov. Blagojevich, Mayor Daley, three Democratic Illinois congressmen, Cook County Board commissioners and many candidates across the country." (Dave McKinney, "Activist Went On To Woo A-List Pols As Political Consultant," Chicago Sun-Times, 3/12/04)

•Creamer's Largest Client Was Rod Blagojevich Who Paid Creamer's Firm $541,654 In 2001 And 2002. "By far, Creamer's largest client was Blagojevich, who extensively used Strategic Consulting Group leading up to the 2002 gubernatorial primary. The governor’s campaign fund paid the firm $541,654 in 2001 and 2002 for consulting, phone-banking and field work, state campaign records show." (Dave McKinney, "Activist Went On To Woo A-List Pols As Political Consultant," Chicago Sun-Times, 3/12/04)

Schakowsky's Husband, Robert Creamer, Was Indicted In 2004 For A Check-Kiting Scheme And Defrauding Banks Out Of $2.3 Million. "Robert B. Creamer, the husband of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, was indicted today on federal charges of operating three check-kiting schemes that defrauded banks out of at least $2.3 million while he ran an Illinois public interest group.” (Mike Robinson, "Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s Husband Indicted," The Associated Press, 3/11/04)

•Creamer Was Charged With 16 Counts Of Bank Fraud And 18 Counts Of Tax Fraud. "Creamer, 56, of Evanston, was charged with 16 counts of bank fraud for allegedly swindling nine different financial institutions. He also was charged with 18 counts of tax fraud.” (Mike Robinson, "Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's Husband Indicted," The Associated Press, 3/11/04)

Creamer Used The Check-Kiting Scheme To Hide His Groups Losses And Continue To Pay His Own Salary. "According to the indictment, Creamer floated check and wire transfer deposits between bank accounts to inflate their balances and hide their deficiencies. It alleges that he caused a series of insufficiently funded checks and wire transfers to be drawn on accounts he controlled as executive director of the Illinois Public Action Fund, a not-for-profit public interest organization. Creamer then allegedly deposited the money into other accounts he controlled. According to the indictment, Creamer used the inflated balances to pay expenses of his organization, as well as his own salary and discretionary expenses." (Mike Robinson, "Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's Husband Indicted," The Associated Press, 3/11/04)

What I'd like to add is that while Creamer was kiting those checks, Schakowsky served on the board of directors of the Illinois Public Action Fund. Creamer pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. Did Creamer and Schakowsky file joint tax returns?

Related post:

Robert Creamer-palooza

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