When it comes to asking for money in Washington, there is often more than meets the eye. Of course, that should come as no surprise because special interest lobbying is in this city's DNA. What may be surprising, though, is even the aid package intended for victims of Superstorm Sandy isn't immune from such horse trading.
Politico reports:
PORT AUTHORITIES HIRE UP FOR SANDY RELIEF: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the congressional delegations from New York and New Jersey aren't the only ones pushing for emergency funds for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Senate lobbying disclosures show that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey signed with Mitch Rose of Mitch Rose Strategic Consulting last month to lobby for supplemental appropriations for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. DLA Piper and Venable are among the firms that have previously lobbied on behalf of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Through September, the group had spent $150,000 on lobbying the federal government.
These pricey lobbying efforts seem remarkably out of touch, especially if the main concern here is to get emergency aid to the families that have been affected by Sandy. It's yet another reminder that things are never what they seem in Washington.