Dan Burton hasn't exactly been the best public servant for his constituents in the 5th Congressional District, or for Indiana.
From spending $9,500 of taxpayer money on an electronic guestbook to skipping 27 percent of U.S. House roll-call votes this past January (so he could play golf), he has shown little regard for his public responsibilities.
Now there's more. A watchdog group -- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) -- shows the 12-term Republican apparently thinks that the purpose of politics is to provide jobs and income for his relatives.
Burton isn't the only member of Congress with a penchant for putting family on the payroll. Fellow Indiana Congressman Steve Buyer's campaign committee helped his daughter Colleen with her bills in 2004 by paying her $1,900 in fundraising
fees.
Forty-four other members -- including long-shot presidential candidate Ron Paul and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va. -- also employ or pay fees to their relatives.
But given Burton's record for flouting decorum and common sense, it isn't surprising that he's landed on this list.
Burton's daughter, Danielle Sarkine, makes a living as one of her father's campaign staffers. She earned $58,400 in salary (along with $3,200 in reimbursed expenses) from her father's campaign committee last year.
In fact, Sarkine has earned $144,000 from the campaign over the past six years, ranking her among CREW's list of the 10 most well-compensated relatives on a congressional campaign.
Burton's younger brother Woody already holds a powerful political seat in the Indiana House of Representatives. But he was paid $5,600 from his brother's campaign committee between 2002 and 2006 for vehicle repairs, insurance and other services.
As a rule, members of Congress aren't allowed to place relatives on their congressional staffs, largely because of the taint of nepotism and the potential for corruption. By hiring relatives as campaign staffers, they leave themselves open to the same kinds of problems, including the type of "ghost employment" that sows the seeds for graft and worse.
Ultimately, it is up to representatives to behave themselves. Some, like Burton, who is serving his 25th year in Congress, have come up short. He should know better. But as we've seen before, his disregard for the voters and even campaign donors knows no bounds.
Gerrymandering has placed him in a district so overwhelmingly Republican that victory in the general election is almost assured.
The challenge offered by former Marion County coroner John McGoff in next year's Republican primary offers voters a good alternative -- and a chance to vote Burton out of office.
Wow. McGoff's campaign manager couldn't have written a better script.
33 comments:
Danny Burton is the bravest, warmest, gentlest, most wonderful human being I've ever met in my life!
And one of his female friends is heard from...
All of the Star's editorial is true. But where have these sanctimonious bastards been for the last 20 years? There's nothing new here. The Burton boys have been raping government for their own narrow ideologies for years.
Oh well. Better late than never.
This reeks of RiShawn's writing. Glad to know he's not gone. Keep it up RiShawn...and keep rattling Amos Brown's self-righteous cage, too. Nobody else does.
At least the star didn't wait until the day AFTER the election to criticize a deadbeat in congress. Julia Carson vs. Eric Dickerson
Deadbeat? You must mean Eric Dickerson who had to be sued by his bank during the campaign to get their money he owed them? This is the same guy who drove his big campaign vehicle around for 4 months on expired paper plates - then finally it got registered to his son and the Dickerson campaign was paying that son for rent and maintenance on it ...
And your dear lady, Wilson, didn't bother to pay the Simons rent on her clothing store in Claypool court, was repeatedly delinquent in the payment of her property taxes and refused to pay the city for the cost of demolishing the rundown house she refused to maintain, which became a neighborhood crack house. Dickerson's bank was paid in full; he never missed a payment. It's funny to what lengths you will go to impugn a successful African-American businessman simply because he dared to be a Republican and challenge your dear lady.
The cost of demolishing that house 10 years ago was paid in full -- yes, she was a too-early investor in Circle Center Mall and lost the store -- she didnt take bankruptcy 20 years ago. Any time a taxpayer is delinquent a penalty is paid for the late fee. She's always paid.
The Dickerson lawsuit by the bank in question was less than a year ago and during his losing campaign.
Hey, when you let anonymous nobodies post callous cracks about deadbeats, things get set up for remarks about Dickerson's fiscal situation! Any response about Eric driving that RV7 unregistered and on Florida paper plates for 4 months until he put it in his son's name? He's paying his son rent and also maintenance costs for his campaign vehicle -- kinda like the situation we are talking about Danny Burton. Keeping the campaign cash in the family!
By the way, Eric Miller gave Burton a perfect score of 10 on his voting scorecard. Your successful Black Republican businessman Eric Dickerson missed it by one: he got a 9 out of ten score. Julia Carson (whom some scorn), also was scorned by Eric Miller: the HoosierTaliban rated her a big zero on their agenda ... I tend not back Eric Miller's candidates but its your choice...
Wilson said, "The cost of demolishing that house 10 years ago was paid in full -- yes, she was a too-early investor in Circle Center Mall and lost the store -- she didnt take bankruptcy 20 years ago. Any time a taxpayer is delinquent a penalty is paid for the late fee. She's always paid.
The Dickerson lawsuit by the bank in question was less than a year ago and during his losing campaign."
She paid it only after the Star ran a big story on it and shamed her into paying it. Her initial response was that she wasn't going to pay the bill. Her advisors made her rethink that position. What about the demise of Peyton Welles? Was he another failed businessman, or is there something going on in that industry which is leading to a big shakeout. Sharp Ford is going the same way. You've never owned a business, Wilson, and you haven't a clue what it takes to run one. Dickerson was a Buick dealer and everyone knows where Buick is headed. He did the smart thing in selling out before the business went belly up. The bank took pre-emptive action by foreclosing after learning the sale was about to happen. It didn't have to do it because it already had a secured interest in his inventory. But doing it gave partisan hacks like you something to rant about. Your recitation of various private, financial matters of Dickerson on this blog and elsewhere has left this reader convinced someone used his SSN, which you obtained from a certain record, and unlawfully accessed his personal credit report. What partisan hacks won't do to further their partisan slash and burn agenda.
Wilson,
Who are you? Do you have a job or do sit in front of a computer all?
Seriously, who are you? Are you an important person we should know?
At least the star didn't wait until the day AFTER the election to criticize a deadbeat in congress.
no, they waited seven months after the election. (in case you missed it, the star endorsed both burton and carson last year.)
"Deadbeat? You must mean Eric Dickerson who had to be sued by his bank during the campaign to get their money he owed them?"
Common practice in the auto business as in other business that floor line inventories. Wilson if you had ever had an honest job in the business world you would have known this.
"This is the same guy who drove his big campaign vehicle around for 4 months on expired paper plates -"
Paper plates are an extension of dealer plates that were issued to Dickerson.
It's a perk of the trade, kind of like... it being OK for Carson to stand and eat from the buffet (I have photos) line while on the campaign trail.
"then finally it got registered to his son and the Dickerson campaign was paying that son for rent and maintenance on it ..."
It belonged to his son, and still is owened by his son.
Wilson this was handled above board except in your feeble mind.
Wilson, Dickerson treated you with respect. I witnessed it. Respect that you didn’t deserve.
Your vindictiveness is sickening. Dickerson may have lost the election but he ran a clean campaign, the same can’t be said for Carson.
You are a miserable excuse for a man.
It's easy to sling insults while hiding behind a mask of "anonymous'. You, sir or madam, as the case may be, are a cowardly poltroon!
1025 Wilson is an intelligent little man who has been brainwashed into believing EVERY word spoken by Democrats is as good as the gospel.
He knows that ALL politicians are corrupt in one way or another. They have their OWN agenda to follow, Sometimes it helps the people, most times it doesn't.
Julia get re-elected because her strong arms of the Ghetto Mafia threaten people into voting for her.
If Wilson would open both eyes, he would see that EVERYONE on government needs to be changed like diapers. OFTEN!!!!!
"You, sir or madam, as the case may be, are a cowardly poltroon"
To each his own opinion.
However you sir (Wilson) are gutter trash. You are so miserable in life that you continue to attack others. Others who have extended respect where it was not earned.
I've never been called a coward before. My father once told me, “a coward always knows another coward that's why they run in gangs“. Like you and the Carson gang? I think so. Together you wield some power, alone you are nothing but wining little weasels.
10:33:
Under IC 9-18-26-6, unless the dealer has paid the excise tax on the vehicle, a dealer can only used dealer plates on a vehicle in the inventory that's for sale, that's used in the operation of the dealership, or that's being used to move a vehicle that is for sale. It's not a "perk of the trade" in the least.
The penalty is $50 to $1000 per day that the plates are improperly used. I have no idea if Dickerson had paid the excise tax on that RV or not.
Nobody seemed to care about all the Colts players being given fancy cars to drive by the local car dealers which were tagged with dealer license plates.
Dan and Woodie Burton are crooks. Dan cheated on his wife and paid child support for 18 years on an illegitimate child. Woodie is a real crook and gets by with more than one cam imagine. In fact his son Little Woodie is a marion county sheriff. wonder how he got that job. Ask frank anderson if he didn't get a call from a congressman.
Cash and Carry Carson is only worth $17,000?
"Cash and Carry Carson is only worth $17,000?"
Checked her freezer lately?
My year old grandbaby is worth more than that.
btw, those expired paper plates Dickerson was using were from the Florida RV dealership somebody bought it from. The plates were NOT from his own dealership. That RV was driven for 4 months before it was registered here in Indiana to his son Blan.
The point about the plates and RV7 is to point out that locally some GOP candidates are like Burton in sloshing campaign cash around inside their family...
Jim Shella sure was right: that Dickerson crowd is truly deserving of the title: "Sorest Losers of 2006" !
What does Ms. Carson need a large bank account for? She owns her house and gets paid $165K/year plus $11K/year from an Indiana pension. When she leaves Congress, her pension will be over $100K/year. Essentially, she has it made with a guaranteed damn decent income for life.
You've earned a place in hell, Wilson, for the character assassination you engaged in last year against both Dickerson and Kris Kiser, two people who never did anything to bring harm to you. How could a person set out to cause such harm to two individuals with whom you had no prior connection? Is it political victory at any cost for you and your dear lady? And by the way, it was your dear lady upon whom the media bestowed the worst winner award for the disrespectful comments she continued to make about Dickerson in declaring victory.
Judgment is mine, saith the Lord. AI is awfully presumptuous, eh?
"btw, those expired paper plates Dickerson was using were from the Florida RV dealership somebody bought it from. The plates were NOT from his own dealership. That RV was driven for 4 months before it was registered here in Indiana"
What about the metal dealer plate that was in the rear side window Wilson?
Conveniently overlook that plate?
The nice thing about being a dealer and an all around good guy is the latitude given by the police.
Eric being the true gentleman he is was given the latitude that Carson demands.
"Judgment is mine, saith the Lord. AI is awfully presumptuous, eh?"
Presumptuous? Hell no! Gary is right on target.
Wilson you are so low that you make a slug look like an elephant. You are a dirtball extraordinaire. Hell’s too good for you.
FYI 1244.. lil' Woodie was hired under Jack Cottey. He was already a merit employee before frank showed up. Get your facts straight.
Wilson, what did the Wonderful Ms. Carson (sarcasm in the voice) do to earn her salary and pension. Besides, with her health, she won't see a retirement check anyway.
Why do you figt a losing battle Wilson? You know these people are smarter than you. That actually says a lot, because Ernie and I both agree that you are an intelligent man, just sitting on the wrong side of the fence!
Get out of the Democrats kool-aid line and help us gain back what used to be a great city to live in.
You knowledge of how to get the govt. to work FOR people would be a great asset.
"Wilson, what did the Wonderful Ms. Carson (sarcasm in the voice) do to earn her salary and pension."
Simple! She was actually elected by voters in a democracy to several different leadership positions. Just because you personally might not have voted for her, more people did. She won elections consistently and is paid accordingly.
If democracy bothers you so much, try Somalia or Adghanistan for the libertarian alternative or North Korea for the totalitarian mode. In America, we choose our leaders in free and fair elections -- despite million-dollar campaigns against her, Julia Carson has been the voters preference since 1972.
"Get out of the Democrats kool-aid line and help us gain back what used to be a great city to live in."
Won't happen. Wilson supports the leaders of a city were a gay man gets a 2x4 to the head on the Monon Trail.
"If democracy bothers you so much, try Somalia or Adghanistan for the libertarian alternative or North Korea for the totalitarian mode."
In case you have not noticed, this country is taking small steps towards becoming the next Somalia, "Adghanistan", and North Korea. It is only a matter of time. With hacks like Burton and Carson stealing my money so they can get paid $165K/year and a $100K/year retirement, it is only a matter of time.
As went Detroit, Benton Harbor, Toledo, and South Central LA, so will the rest of the country.
"Nobody seemed to care about all the Colts players being given fancy cars to drive by the local car dealers which were tagged with dealer license plates."
Aside from the fact that no Colts were running for public office, I wasn't aware they were using dealer tags.
Coach Dungy keeps his Mercedes registered in Florida, where there is no excise tax on vehicles. He even has a Colts license plate frame around his FL plate.
In any event, it certainly wasn't right of Dungy, the players, or Dickerson.
"Won't happen. Wilson supports the leaders of a city were a gay man gets a 2x4 to the head on the Monon Trail."
I do support the leaders of a city that supported the Human Rights Ordinance, as opposed to the bigoted Republicans that fought basic human rights for LGBT citizens and that vigorously supported SJR7 and opposed the Hate Crimes Bill.
I'm openly gay - why should I flip to the side of the backward thugs that oppose my civil rights? George W Bush, Eric Miller, Brian Bosma, Ginny Cain and many other Republicans stir up the hatred that gets gay men attacked.
The GOP has rebuked and reviled me but no Democrat has ever called me Sodomite!
If that's the worst name you've been called then your doing OK.
If someone called me a sodomite I might turn into a little crying woosie and start voting Democrat too...NOT!!!
Life is tough Wilson grow up.
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