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April 7, 2005
By now most Americans are familiar with House Majority Leader Tom "The Hammer" DeLay's ethical problems. Fresh off accusations that he took a number of business trips that violated House ethics rules, new revelations surfaced yesterday that indicate DeLay's family has received more than $500,000 from his political action and campaign committees. What Americans may be less familiar with is the support DeLay is receiving from some of this country's leading businesses in fighting these charges.
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Wine and spirits manufacturer Bacardi has been contributing to DeLay for years. Since 2001 "The Hammer" has been influencing the "Bacardi Bill," which would help ensure Bacardi's rights to the lucrative "Havana Club" rum label. In return, Bacardi has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to DeLay's legal defense fund and political action committees.
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Other companies have followed suit. As DeLay has fought fuel efficiency standards on behalf of the auto industry, Nissan has given thousands of dollars to his legal defense fund. The airline industry-and particularly American Airlines-has also contributed heavily. After September 11th, the House of Representatives drafted legislation that would have mandated security training for flight attendants. The airlines opposed the step as too expensive, so DeLay weakened the provision by inserting language that made the training voluntary.
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DeLay has yet to substantively respond to the newest charges leveled against him. Yesterday he blamed a vast conspiracy that is supposedly out to get him and claimed there was "no new news" in any of the stories. Other conservatives have circled the wagons: House Majority Whip Roy Blunt says, "I don't see any wavering in support of the leader."
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