Calls For Oxley’s Ouster - Kirk’s No Comment

The timing couldn’t be more interesting or pivotal. Last night WLIO revealed that Congressional fund-raising watchdog “Campaign Legal Center” in Washington is calling on the Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to strip Oxley of his chairmanship over the powerful House Financial Services Committee.

The Legal Center claims Oxley directly benefited from illegal fund-raising activities of Housing Mortgage Industry giant Feddie Mac during a period of time that legislation to further regulate the government sponsored entity was stifled in Oxley’s committee.

The Legal Centers Director of Communications David Vance claims despite being linked to the scandal, Oxley was the featured guest at Tuesdays “American League of Lobbyists” luncheon in Washington. Freddie Mac recently paid a record 3.8 million dollar fine to settle a complaint it illegally used Corporate Treasury Funds to sponsor Congressional fundraisers claiming many were hosted to benefit Oxley during the hearings before his committee.

When they called the local office in Lima there was “no comment.”

NBC-Lima called Oxley’s Washington office for a response to the accusations and call for his removal. An office spokesman said Oxley and his office had “no comment”.

That office is run by Kelly Kirk who has been the feature of several articles over some political intrigue locally over her coup attempt of the Allen County Chairman. That race has gotten personal and the attacks increased as the Central Committeeman of Allen County will meet to elect a new Executive Chairman. Even more interesting is that in her attacks she also cites Congressman Oxley’s donations as drying up and will no longer will be available (One wonders why she doesn’t consider future Congressman Jim Jordan as being able to do even better. The amount was merely $3,500 (approx) per year. There are other officials locally who gave more than that. In fact State Sen. Jim Jordan has done better for the local party than U.S. Congressman Oxley. Perhaps all that money that came pouring in from those Washington party went elsewhere. No wonder Kelly Kirk has no comment on the activities she must be aware of.

No her coup is tainted by the ‘politics’ as usual platform. These allegations against Oxley have been in the backdrop for sometime. Some have called it the permanent tan political trap, something that happens when some go to Washington. Something the Toledo Blade called the jetsetter lifestyle.

No, we’re not referring to U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley, Findlay’s frequent flier. Mr. Oxley, who blazed a contrail as one of Congress’ premier jet-setters, is leaving office at the end of the year.

The shapers of policy often have to compete for those top spots and can involve lots of money.

In a tight contest for the chairmanship of the Commerce Committee, Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., and Rep. Michael Oxley, R-Ohio, had raised millions of dollars and threw lavish parties at the Republican National Convention as part of their campaigns for the job.

Will anything be done prior to Oxley leaving office? Hard to imagine it happening but it is possible. The timing couldn’t have been better for local Chairman Keith Cheney who not only has run a successful local Republican office but also faces a challenger use to the Oxley campaign ethics.

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