The chairman of the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana says the $120,000 yearly fee to embattled Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff is well worth it.

"Jack knows a number of people that we want to inform and educate," chairman Alton LeBlanc told The Baton Rouge Advocate. "The lobbying is as traditional as it is for Microsoft or anybody else."

LeBlanc said the tribe has paid $120,000 a year to Abramoff since 2000 for a total of $480,000. The fee dwarfs that other tribes have paid to Abramoff, who used to work for the firm Greenberg Traurig but has since departed amid an internal and Senate investigation.

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) plans to hold hearing sometime this summer on the $45 million fees tribes gave to Abramoff and a close associate, public relations executive Michael Scanlon.

Get the Story:
La. Indian tribe chairman defends lobbyist's fees (The Baton Rouge Advocate 5/18)

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