AP just moved this exlusive:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Montana Sen. Conrad Burns, a Republican in a tight re-election race, flew on a private plane chartered by Vonage Holdings Corp., just days after he pushed legislation that the company has advocated for more than a year.
Burns accompanied Vonage lobbyist Frank Cavaliere on the company's chartered plane to and from the "13th Annual Burns Classic Golf Weekend" in Bigfork, Mont., on Saturday. Cavaliere and a Burns spokesman both confirmed the plane trip to The Associated Press on Monday.
Campaign finance rules allow members of Congress to fly on corporate aircraft as long as they reimburse the company for the equivalent of first-class airfare. Jason Klindt, a spokesman for Burns, said the senator will reimburse the company.
Bye bye, Burns.
The story is
here.
This is beautiful.
More devastating news for Burns.
More from AP:
The fundraiser was held two days after the Senate passed a Burns-sponsored amendment that was pushed in various forms by Vonage and several public safety groups. The amendment was added to a port security bill that the Senate approved 98-0 on Sept. 14.
The legislation, originally sponsored by Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, would give Internet phone companies the ability to better provide their consumers access to 911 services.
Vonage and other companies that connect calls over the Web have been under fire for problems with connecting its customers to reliable emergency service, and had asked Congress for the tools to help them.
Among the lobbying firms working for Vonage has been Gage, a group founded by Burns' former chief of staff Leo Giacometto.
Vonage CEO Jeffrey Citron has contributed $4,000 to Burns' campaign since March 2005 and the company paid $75,000 to Gage for lobbying on various bills last year, according to campaign and lobbying disclosure reports. Brooke Schulz, senior vice president of corporate communications for Vonage, said the lobbying firm does not lobby Burns on the company's behalf.
Calls to Gage were not returned Monday.
Can you BELIEVE this buffoon? All the heat he is taking over corporate favors and he still pulls this shit.