Alaska Democratic Party calls on Stevens to lift veil of secrecy on his $2.3 million foundation

[maddezmom]

Source: Alaska Report

Ted Stevens Foundation Takes Unlimited & Anonymous Donations From Corporations And Lobbyists Banned From Contributing To Political Campaigns
As the issue of ethics heats up in the Alaska Senate race, the Alaska Democratic Party (ADP) today called for full disclosure of donation and expenditures for the Ted Stevens Foundation. The Ted Stevens Foundation was founded in 2000 with its first event consisting of a fundraiser with lobbyists in 2004. As of 2005, the foundation's net assets reached $2.3 million. Today, the ADP charged that the Stevens Foundation uses an ethics loophole allowing those who donate to seek favors from Congress.


"Alaskan families have been kept in the dark, and they deserve full disclosure from their public officials," said Bethany Lesser, spokeswoman for the ADP. "The Ted Stevens Foundation could be a wonderful charity or a Congressional pay-to-play loophole. With the lack of disclosure, who knows? Senator Stevens is currently under investigation, and it is not unreasonable that he disclose who has given to the foundation, how much they have given, and how the money has been spent."

The Ted Stevens Foundation
In March 2004, a group of lobbyists that were former Stevens' aides organized a $5,000 a plate dinner to benefit a charity called Ted Stevens Foundation. Bill Canfield, a former Stevens' aide and board member, said the organization would be primarily devoted to the preservation of Ted Stevens' papers. Yet Canfield did not dispute that people might give to the foundation to gain influence with Stevens, saying, "The notion that people are coming to curry favor with him may be true. I don't know. You'd have to ask the invitees." < Anchorage Daily News, "Lobbyists Flock To Nonprofit; Fund-Raiser: Does A Check To Stevens Foundation Buy Influence?" March 6, 2004>



Read more: http://www.alaskareport.com/news58/x61295_stevens_foundation.htm

[DCKit]

1. Screw drilling in ANWR, let's tap Ted Stevens instead.

Among sleazy, greasy Republicons, he's GOT to be the greasiest.

[RedEarth]

2. KR....... thanks for posting

[Divernan]

3. What about full disclosure of donations and expenditures to Bill Clinton's Foundation?