In the tight Montana Senate race, Republicans are looking for any edge in their quest to oust Democrat Sen. Jon Tester.
The Montana Republican Party pounded Friday, filing a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee asking for an investigation into Tester and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.).
Continue ReadingThe complaint cites a report from POLITICO that Baucus? allies on K Street were warning clients against giving campaign contributions to Tester?s Republican challenger Rep. Denny Rehberg. The Tester-Rehberg match-up is one of the tightest in the 2012 election.
The complaint alleges that the two Montana Democrats are engaging in improper conduct.
?These reports of improper behavior involving Senate Baucus, Senator Tester, and their lobbyist alllies are very disturbing, and should concern each and every Montanan,? state GOP Executive Director Bowen Greenwood said in a statement. ?Montanans deserve accountability, and that begins with an immediate investigation of Senators Tester and Baucus for this behavior.?
The POLITICO account detailed how some Democratic lobbyists advised clients against contributing to Rehberg; it did not allege that Baucus or Tester were involved, or aware of the activity.
?Aside from illustrating precisely how much Senator Tester is relying on K Street lobbyist cash for his re-election, this report suggests that there is a long established pattern of such behavior on behalf of Senator Tester that has been undertaken by Senator Baucus,? the complaint reads.
The complaint, lodged by Greenwood, alleges that this behavior is not up to the Code of Ethics for Government Service.
Baucus? spokeswoman Kate Downen said the reports are politically motivated.
?This anonymous claim made by unnamed lobbyists is not just completely untrue, it?s entirely motivated by politics, and it would be unfortunate to let it distract us from the work of moving our economy forward and making sure we leave Montana, and our country, worthy of our kids and grandkids,? said Downen in a statement.
Tester?s campaign declined to comment on the complaint, pointing to recent reports that Rehberg?s campaign had accepted more than $20,000 from lobbyists who had not disclosed their employment on federal disclosure forms.
?A complaint by a Congressman who just got caught hiding $25,000 he took from Washington lobbyists? Interesting,? said Tester campaign spokesman Aaron Murphy.
Rehberg?s campaign told the Associated Press that the information was left blank because the donors didn?t include it, and that the campaign had tried to obtain employment information.
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