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Lobbyist Hired by Freddie Mac to Work on McCain Is Now Senator's Aide
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Race
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| Contributor | ArmyDem |
| Last Edited | ArmyDem Oct 03, 2008 10:57am |
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| Category | News |
| Media | Newspaper - Washington Post |
| News Date | Friday, October 3, 2008 04:55:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | By Matthew Mosk and David S. Hilzenrath
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, October 3, 2008; Page A09
When mortgage giant Freddie Mac feared several years ago that Sen. John McCain was too outspoken on the issue of executive pay, it pinpointed a lobbyist known for his closeness to McCain and hired him to work with the senator.
Mark Buse, a longtime McCain adviser who had been staff director of the Senate commerce committee, signed on as a Freddie Mac lobbyist, and his firm, ML Strategies, earned $460,000 in lobbying fees in late 2003 and 2004, according to lobbying disclosures. Buse is now chief of staff at McCain's Senate office.
Buse was one of many strategic hires made by Freddie Mac in its efforts to sew up support and manage opponents on Capitol Hill, a push that peaked in 2004 with the retention of 34 outside lobbying firms. Over the past decade, Freddie spent more than $95 million on lobbying, while its sister company, Fannie Mae, spent more than $79 million.
The connections have become a hot political issue for both Republicans and Democrats in the presidential campaign. McCain has highlighted Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's association with high-level figures from Fannie Mae, including former chairman and chief executive James Johnson, who once led Obama's vice presidential search.
McCain's own entanglements include his campaign manager, Rick Davis, who earned more than $2 million as president of an advocacy group that defended Fannie and Freddie against stricter regulation. |
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