Defense Industry Backers of Weldon

Today's article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, "N. Korea's missile tests a pitch for Exton software firm" talks again about a disturbing relationship, that Congressman Curt Weldon's campaign finance reports show the connection between Weldon and the defense industry contributors to his campaign. In this case, they talk about Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) and their contributions directly to Weldon's campaign and to CURT PAC.

The Inquirer reported in May that AGI was the largest local fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon, powerful vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, rainmaker for defense firms, and a staunch supporter of the country's
missile-defense program.
Since last year, 14 people associated with AGI contributed a total of more than $5,000, and a company political fund added $8,500 to Weldon's campaign kitty and CURT PAC, a campaign fund for Weldon's Republican colleagues.

The Inky's previous article on May. 08, 2006 "For Weldon, a military campaign" describes in detail how many defense contractors, who fate (and contracts) are directly related to Weldon's work on the House Armed Services Committee. The article states:

The biggest local source of funding for Weldon has been Analytical Graphics Inc., an Exton firm with 250 employees that makes software for mapping and visualizing space objects. Fourteen people associated with the company have contributed $5,250, and a company political fund has added $8,500 to Weldon and CURT PAC.

In August 2004, records show, Analytical Graphics paid his expenses to travel to Huntsville and Jacksonville, Fla. Weldon's office said the main purpose of the trip was for him to speak at a missile defense conference in Huntsville. Shortly after, Weldon reported having received $28,300 from Huntsville-area donors.

Officials at Analytical Graphics did not respond to requests for an interview.

From 2000 to 2005, Analytical Graphics won 29 US Government contracts totaling over $11.7 million. Source: governmentcontractswon.com

And if you check on the 57 trips taken by Curt Weldon and his staffers from 2000 to 2005, you will see that many of them paid are for by defense contractors, including AGI.

If you go back a few years, you will also find that Weldon has been involved in connecting AGI to Russian interests. Reviewing the program for the "Russian IT Seasons" gathering in Nov, 2002, you will see that Weldon was the keynote speaker, and AGI was on the program pitching their wares to the Russians.

So what's the point here? Maybe AGI is a good company that offers good products. Maybe the defense industry contributions to Weldon are simply their way of saying "good job Curt!"

Then again, maybe there is some connection between the contributions and the contracts.

Either way, in PA-7 on Nov 7, 2006, we get to decide if this is how we want our representative in Congress to work.