Blunt's Ties To And Favors For Phillip Morris

See also, Abigail Perlman 

Mr. Blunt's Efforts On Behalf Of Phillip Morris

In June of 2003, the Washington Post reported that one of Rep. Blunt's first acts as Majority Whip was to attempt to secretly insert a provision into the Homeland Security Bill, that would have benefitted Ms. Perlman's company, Phillip Morris.  Mr. Blunt's actions were so outrageous, not even Majority Leader Tom DeLay could stomach them. 

Only hours after Rep. Roy Blunt was named to the House's third-highest leadership job in November, he surprised his fellow top Republicans by trying to quietly insert a provision benefiting Philip Morris USA into the 475-page bill creating a Department of Homeland Security, according to several people familiar with the effort.

The new majority whip, who has close personal and political ties to the company, instructed congressional aides to add the tobacco provision to the bill -- then within hours of a final House vote -- even though no one else in leadership supported it or knew he was trying to squeeze it in.

Once alerted to the provision, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's chief of staff, Scott Palmer, quickly had it pulled out, said a senior GOP leader who requested anonymity. Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) also opposed what Blunt (Mo.) was trying to do, the member said, and "worked against it" when he learned of it.

This is how the Washington Post characterized Blunt's ties to Perlman at the time.

Several Republicans who learned of the November effort have privately expressed concern that Blunt pushed the provision partly because of his personal relationship with Philip Morris lobbyist Abigail Perlman. Blunt, who several Republicans said spends considerable time with Perlman, would not discuss their relationship or whether the two had talked about the provision.

Phillip Morris' Efforts On Behalf Of Mr. Blunt 

According to a May 17, 2005 Washington Post story, Altria, the parent company of Phillip Morris, and the company that employs Ms. Perlman, is Mr. Blunt's largest contributor.  In recent years, Altria has given Mr. Blunt more than $270,000.

Mr. Blunt's son, Andy, a lobbyist in Missouri, also represents Altria.

Phillip Morris, The American Turkish Council, and Blunt Staffer's Junkets To Turkey

Phillip Morris, the company that employs Ms. Perlman, has a seat on the board of a group called the American Turkish Council (ATC).  Mr. Blunt has taken significant official actions that have benefitted the interests of the ATC.

But the ATC has also been very good to Mr. Blunt's staff.  At least three staffers of Mr. Blunt have made junkets to Turkey, courtesy of the ATC.  On some occasions, aside from its role on the board of the ATC, Phillip Morris additionally directly sponsored the trips.

Mr. Gregg Hartley--Mr. Blunt's then Chief of Staff, Ms. Amy Field--Mr. Blunt's current Chief of Staff, and Mr. Jared Craighead--a then-Blunt staffer who is now Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party all took such trips.  Here is a link to the travel disclosure forms, signed by Mr. Blunt.

Mr. Hartley is now a lobbyist with Cassidy and Associates.  Mr. Hartley hired Jack Abramoff at Cassidy, after a February 2004 Washington Post story about Mr. Abramoff's bilking of Indian gaming clients forced his departure from Greenberg Traurig.