July 09, 2007
Stevens Fears Bridge To Unemployment
Alaska Republican Ted Stevens, a one-time Senate appropriations gatekeeper, says he is worried about a Justice Department probe that may target him.
"The worst thing about this investigation is that it does change your life in terms of employment potential," Stevens told AP. "It doesn't matter what anyone says, it does shake you up. If this is still hanging around a year from November, it could cause me some trouble."
Investigators are looking into whether the 83-year-old lawmaker received a deal on a home renovation project in exchange for favors. Bill Allen, a contractor who oversaw the 2000 renovation, which doubled the size of Stevens' Alaska home, pleaded guilty to bribing state lawmakers and is now cooperating with the FBI.
Stevens' son Ben, former president of the state Senate, was ensnared in the investigation. His office and those of five other Alaska legislators were raided by the feds last summer.
Stevens is up for re-election next year. While not a particularly warm or charismatic lawmaker -- the word "crotchety" comes to mind -- the six-term senator has been re-elected time and again because of the deftness with which he directed funds to his state as Senate Appropriations Committee chairman. Alaska, population 670,053, has ranked No. 1 in per capita federal spending for most of the last decade.
Readers may remember the famed "Bridge to Nowhere." Stevens threatened to resign after a Senate colleague attempted to block the $453 million earmarked for that and one other bridge.
The second bridge was to be called Don Young's Way, and also led to nowhere. That project was named for Republican Don Young, the state's only U.S. representative. At the time, Young chaired the House Transportation Committee.
Young is also in trouble, for his possible ties to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and his relationship with Allen, Roll Call reported two weeks ago. Young is currently a target in a DCCC ad campaign against Republicans who are considered vulnerable in the 2008 elections.
Posted at 6:41 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Crime, House, Jack Abramoff, Senate, Ted Stevens
Share via
