Politics
McCain calls for investigation into tribal spending


Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he will hold a hearing on the "disgraceful" fees of a lobbying firm and public relations firm that received more than $45 million from four tribes.

McCain told The Washington Post he was upset with reports of tribal spending on D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff and public relations executive Michael Scanlon. "If that amount of money was spent on lobbying and tribal members are living below subsistence levels, including in my state, this is not appropriate," he was quoted as saying.

McCain said he would work with Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) to hold a hearing before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

In related news, members of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan said the FBI has interviewing them. Tribal leaders are upset that their predecessors spent $14 million on Abramoff's law firm, Greenberg Traurig.

Get the Story:
Think Tank's Directors Tied To PR Firm (The Washignton Post 2/27)
Saginaw Chippewa leaders say FBI investigating lobbyist spending (AP 2/26)

Relevant Links:
Greenberg Traurig - http://www.gtlaw.com

Related Stories:
Four tribes spent $45M on lobbying and PR firms (2/23)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets has new lobbyist (12/13)