by Javier Manjarres
It seems as if Republican Congressmen John Mica and C.W. Young have some explaining to do to Floridians as it’s recently been discovered that both have ‘helped’ family members benefit from their positions in the U.S. Congress. Mica has recently been in hot water with the ‘Tea Party,’ and freshmen Republican members of Congress for controversial remarks statements he had made concerning both groups.
In a meeting with Grassroots activists in the Orlando area, Mica was hoping to garner activist support away from his primary opponent, Congresswoman Sandy Adams, but he wound up turning off many in the room after taking a cheap shot at the newly elected members of the Republican Congress-
When it comes to the new guys, we are talking about amateur hour. These guys need help finding their way to the bathroom.”-Congressman John Mica
Do you think the 2nd Amendment will be destroyed by the Biden Administration?(2)
This statement prompted Republican freshman President, Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA) to respond by saying,
Mica then took issue with the grassroots activists for discussing what was said at their meeting and then expressed his true feelings and thoughts about the grassroots movement. (Read more here)The freshman Republican class sees the national deficit as being the biggest enemy to the future of our children and grandchildren, and the difference between the senior members of Congress and the freshman, is that we (freshman) want to deal with it now. I think she (Adams) is a good Congresswoman and is representative of what Americans look for in a member of Congress. – Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA)
Now the Florida Political Press is reporting that Mica and Young have both helped family members prosper from lofty positions in Congress.
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. It is a common accusation in politics when the relative of a powerful figure prospers or ascends to similar power seemingly without appropriate qualifications.
All Gov, a government watchdog organization, recently reported that 38 members of the U.S. House of Representatives earmarked $150 million to organizations affiliated with themselves and their family members from 2008 to 2010.
It should be noted that House rules don’t prohibit lawmakers from giving federal earmarks to companies that employ their children.
While 24 were Democrats and only 14 Republicans, the top five members who earmarked to organizations affiliated with them or their family members were all Republicans, including two members from Florida, Reps. John Mica and C.W. Bill Young. All Gov reports;John Mica earmarked $13 million to his daughter’s client. Mica has five relatives who work as lobbyists, two brothers, a son and a nephew. His daughter, D’Anne, ran a public relations firm whose client, the Central Commuter Rail, received the $13 million.
As shown, Mica has five relatives who work as lobbyists, two brothers, a son and a nephew. Is this a particular talent that runs in the family, or is there something greater at play?
Mica sponsored the $13 million earmark in 2009 for the controversial 61-mile SunRail project. From 2003-2011, his daughter D’Anne Mica ran a public relations firm. The firm’s web site listed the Florida engineering firm PBS&J as one of her clients.
