Digging himself deeper

Our position: Feeney shouldn't take money from a supporter seeking a NASA contract.

August 18, 2007

Orlando Sentinel

For a textbook example of why legal-defense funds for lawmakers are a bad idea, consider the one three-term U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo set up to pay his legal bills related to his part in the ongoing federal probe of corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Mr. Feeney's fund got a $5,000 contribution -- the maximum allowed -- from the president of a company seeking a contract with NASA. Mr. Feeney is the top Republican on a House panel that oversees NASA. It doesn't take a telescope to spot the conflict.

Ironically, Mr. Feeney has said he set up a legal-defense fund and hired a top law firm because he is so determined to protect his reputation. He does his cause no good by accepting contributions from anyone he could directly benefit through his position in Congress.