Edison Chouest Offshore

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</font></li><li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00030245">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Bill Cassidy (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00009659">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to David Vitter (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00009157">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Doc Hastings (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00007999">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Don Young (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00031503">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Jeffrey M. Landry (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00029679">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to John Fleming (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00026050">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Lisa Murkowski (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00029901">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Mark Begich (D) in 2012</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00005395">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Mary L. Landrieu (D) in 2012</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00009660">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Steve Scalise (R) in 2012</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00026595">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Charles W. Boustany Jr (R) in 2010</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00001971">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Elijah E. Cummings (D) in 2010</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00030339">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Joseph Cao (R) in 2010</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00026840">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Charles J. Melancon (D) in 2008</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2006&cid=N00026786">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Bobby Jindal (R) in 2006</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2004&cid=N00008038">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Chris John (D) in 2004</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2002&cid=N00008957">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Bob Smith (R) in 2002</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2002&cid=N00005528">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to J. C. Watts Jr (R) in 2002</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2002&cid=N00007087">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Jerry Lewis (R) in 2002</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2002&cid=N00005385">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to John Breaux (D) in 2002</font></li>

<li style=" display: list-item;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2000&cid=N00007997">Edison Chouest Offshore</a> to Ted Stevens (R) in 2000</font></li>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> =</font></p><div class="entry-content" style="margin: 5px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 24px;"><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And then there were 14.</font></p><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">With only $260,939 left as of Sept. 30, Louisiana Gov. <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/candidate.php?id=N00026786" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Bobby Jindal</a>withdrew from the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination Tuesday. Jindal strategist Curt Anderson <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bobby-jindal-2016-suspends-presidential-campaign-216002" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">told Politico</a> during a conference call with reporters that fundraising was “certainly a part of” the candidate’s decision to drop out.</font></p><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In a <a href="https://www.bobbyjindal.com/thank-you-11-17-15/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">statement</a>, the former House member said his parents “raised me to believe Americans can do anything, and they were right, we can. But this is not my time, so I am suspending my campaign for president.” Jindal said that when his term ends, he will return to work at<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C90015439&cycle=2016" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">America Next</a>, a nonprofit he founded in 2013 that has run pro-Jindal ads.</font></p><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jindal had raised less than $1.2 million and spent almost $900,000 by the end of September. The bulk of his donations, 88 percent, were individual contributions of more than $200, indicating anemic grassroots support.</font></p><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">His home state was by far his biggest financial supporter: 81 percent of his donations came from Louisiana, with $446,000 coming specifically from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metropolitan areas.</font></p><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While his fundraising was lackluster compared to the major GOP candidates, Jindal did benefit from a super PAC dedicated solely to him called <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C00571711&cycle=2016" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Believe Again</a>, which has reported $2.6 million in independent expenditures. As of June 30, the group had raised $3.7 million, about three times as much as Jindal’s campaign had raised by the end of September.<strong>
</strong></font></p><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>A million-dollar donation to the super PAC came from Gary Chouest, the president of Louisiana-based shipping company <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000033379" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Edison Chouest Offshore</a>.</b> Another $250,000 came from hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, but Mercer has mainly supported Sen. <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/candidate.php?id=N00033085" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Ted Cruz</a> (R-Texas) in the 2016 race. Mercer donated $11 million to a super PAC backing Cruz, the largest gift to an outside spending group during the cycle so far. Tracy Krohn, the founder of Houston-based natural gas and oil producer <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000063948" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">W&T Offshore</a>, also gave $250,000 to Believe Again.</font></p><p style="padding: 5px 0px 5px 20px; margin: 5px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">America Next, the 501(c)(4) nonprofit, was the first of the single-candidate “dark money” groups to report any spending to the Federal Election Commission this election cycle. The nonprofit paid for Jindal’s travel before he officially declared his candidacy in June and spent $340,000 on television ads supporting him. America Next isn’t required to disclose its donors, but tax filings this week <a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/11/17/18867/drug-lobby-gave-50000-pro-jindal-nonprofit" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">showed</a>that Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000504" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">(PhRMA)</a> gave the group $50,000 in 2014.</font></p></div><footer class="entry-meta" style="line-height: 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
<strong>Categories</strong>: <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/category/outside-money/501c-groups/" rel="category tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">501(c) groups</a> <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/category/campaign-finance/" rel="category tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Campaign finance</a> <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/category/outside-money/" rel="category tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Outside Money</a> <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/category/politicians-elections/presidential-election-1/" rel="category tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Presidential Election</a> <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/category/outside-money/super-pacs/" rel="category tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Super PACs</a>

<strong>Tags</strong>: <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/america-next/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">america next</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/baton-rouge/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Baton Rouge</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/believe-again/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Believe Again</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/bobby-jindal/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Bobby Jindal</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/brianna-gurciullo/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Brianna Gurciullo</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/edison-chouest-offshore/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Edison Chouest Offshore</a>,<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/gary-chouest/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Gary Chouest</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/louisiana/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">louisiana</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/new-orleans/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">New Orleans</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/robert-mercer/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Robert Mercer</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/tracy-krohn/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Tracy Krohn</a>, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/tag/wt-offshore/" rel="tag" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">W&T Offshore</a></font></footer><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000033379&cycle=A"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000033379&cycle=A</font></a></p><table class="datadisplay" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; width: 630px; line-height: 24px; background: rgb(224, 230, 236);"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ouse</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009660&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Scalise, Steve (R-LA)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$44,200</font></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">House</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00001971&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Cummings, Elijah E (D-MD)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$33,700</font></td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senate</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00005395&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Landrieu, Mary L (D-LA)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$33,300</font></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">House</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00029258&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Hunter, Duncan D (R-CA)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$31,100</font></td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">House</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00007999&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Young, Don (R-AK)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$25,000</font></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">House</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00031958&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Palazzo, Steven (R-MS)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$15,600</font></td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">House</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LA06&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Graves, Garret (R-LA)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$10,400</font></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">House</font></td><td style="padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00030245&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Cassidy, Bill (R-LA)</font></a></td><td class="number" style="padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$9,500</font></td></tr></tbody></table><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/08/07/the-ties-that-bind-on-capitol-hill" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/08/07/the-ties-that-bind-on-capitol-hill</font></a></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style=""><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Ties That Bind on Capitol Hill</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>By Juliet Eilperin</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">August 7, <b>2003</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">The rules are clear: Members of Congress cannot accept a meal from a lobbyist if the tab exceeds $50. Lobbyists cannot even use a House member's phone or fax machine while cooling their heels in a congressional office.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">But if you are a lawmaker's spouse, sibling or child, there is not a single rule governing whether corporations, trade groups and others can hire you to lobby your relative -- and his or her colleagues -- on legislation vital to the clients</span>.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Politicians' familial ties to lobbyists are attracting new attention, as public watchdog groups and the news media scrutinize potential conflicts of interest. The problem has grown in recent years as lawmakers' spouses -- women, most often -- have developed careers in a city where many businesses revolve around the Capitol. Wary of shutting down these opportunities, House and Senate committees have opted for general and comparatively loose guidelines rather than establishing specific rules for family members.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dozens of senators and representatives are related to lobbyists who represent interests including the American Beekeeping Federation, Major League Baseball and the steel industry. While some lobbyists try to keep their distance, others appear less concerned.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The Los Angeles Times recently chronicled how Sen. Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) supported several measures promoted by his son and son-in-law, both lobbyists for Nevada interests</b>. Several times, Reid's relatives appealed to the senator's staff to help facilitate federal land swaps, protect mining interests and steer federal dollars to clients such as the University of Nevada at Reno. Reid did not tell colleagues or the public that the provisions he authored, many of which were obscure, benefited clients that paid his son and son-in-law $2 million in lobbying fees, according to the Times.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Reid said he had "conversations" with the two relatives about their clients, but that the discussions were unrelated to his legislative actions. His staff also spoke with his son, Key G. Reid, who works for the Nevada law firm Lionel, Sawyer & Collins, and his <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">son-in-law, Steven Barringer, a lobbyist with McClure, <b>Gerard</b> & Neuenschwander.</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tessa Hafen, the senator's press secretary, said mining and gambling industries drive the state's economy. "Of course, Senator Reid, as a senator from that state, is going to represent those industries," Hafen said.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">After a Los Angeles Times interview with Reid, his chief of staff issued a policy barring his son and son-in-law from lobbying the office. "Senator Reid has long held that elected leaders must take steps to prevent even the appearance of impropriety, and it has become clear this ban is necessary for that reason," the aide said.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style=""><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sometimes senators produce results for their children's clients even if they've sworn off lobbying contacts.</span><b style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Chester Trent Lott Jr., son of Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and a lobbyist with the Livingston Group, represents interests in Kentucky and Washington, including</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"> Louisiana-based Edison Chouest Offshore</span></b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">, </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">which services vessels. Last fall, his father, the then-Senate majority leader, added a provision to legislation allowing foreign-built ships to conduct domestic trade along the United States' coasts, something that is barred under a 1920s law. That helped Edison build ships for ExxonMobil Corp, since it would let the company buy foreign oil tankers if it could not complete the job in time. Edison spokesman Lonnie Thibodeaux said he could not "discuss the matter at all. . . . Whatever is public record is public record."</span></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Livingston Group</b> spokesman William R. Teator, whose group works with the younger Lott, said the senator and his son have an agreement not to discuss clients. Sen. Lott did not return several calls.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Charles Lewis, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity, said the increasing coziness between politicians and their lobbyist relatives is "unseemly. It does seem to be getting out of hand."</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A lawmaker's ascension into leadership can directly help family members, Lewis noted, such as when then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay's brother, Randy DeLay, recovered from financial problems after becoming a lobbyist. DeLay (R-Tex.) banned his brother from his office after an outside group filed an ethics complaint.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Joshua Hastert, son of Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), signed up with a lobbying firm after his father was elected speaker.</b></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Several politicians and their relatives say they adhere to strict policies. Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle's wife, Linda H. Daschle, an aviation expert and former Clinton administration official, has nearly a dozen clients at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz. But she refuses to lobby in the Senate, in the same way she did not lobby in the House when her husband, a South Dakota Democrat, was a representative.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Former Clinton administration aide Doris O. Matsui is registered for 70 clients at Collier Shannon Scott. Although many of these groups may have tax and trade interests, Matsui will not represent them on those issues because her husband, Rep. Robert T. Matsui (Calif.), is a senior Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee. She does not lobby any Ways and Means Committee member, Rep. Matsui said.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"We don't talk about anything having to do with work," he said.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Others adopt more liberal standards. Joshua Hastert, who represents high-tech and small businesses at Federal Legislative Associates, will not approach his father but has not ruled out lobbying other House leaders, Hastert spokesman John Feehery said.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kimberly Dorgan, wife of Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), is a senior lobbyist at the American Council of Life Insurers, which spent $3.36 million on lobbying last year. Kimberly Dorgan does not lobby her husband, but reserves the right to work his colleagues, said Jack Dolan, a spokesman for the ACLI. He said the group hired Dorgan five years ago because of her lengthy lobbying experience rather than her family ties.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The House and Senate ethics committees suggest that lawmakers rely on broader conflict-of-interest rules to guide their actions regarding spouses. These panels are silent on the question of other relatives' lobbying.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.), who chairs the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, said the most common problem he sees is lawmakers' relatives taking advantage of relationships they have developed with the congressional colleagues of their spouse or parent. "It's something of concern," Hefley said. "I don't know exactly how to control it, unless there are [clear] violations."</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The House manual says: "Neither federal law nor House rules specifically precludes a member's spouse from engaging in any activity on the ground that it could create a conflict of interest with the member's official duties." But it cautions, "the question may arise as to whether the member is improperly benefiting as a result of the spouse's employment." The ethics committee tells lawmakers "to avoid situations in which even an inference might be drawn suggesting improper action."</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Senate Select Committee on Ethics, whose chairman,<b> George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio)</b>, declined to comment, has a similar policy.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Staff researcher Alice Crites contributed to this report.</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Linda H. Daschle, wife of Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), is a lobbyist with Baker, Donelson. Senate Minority Whip Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) supported several measures promoted by lobbyist son and son-in-law. <b> Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), right, the former majority leader, and his son, Chester Trent Lott Jr., who is a lobbyist with the Livingston Group.</b></font></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p>