To the editor:

The Office of Congressional Ethics recommended recently that its investigation of Congressman Todd Tiahrt’s involvement with PMA Group, a now-defunct Washington lobbying firm that was raided by the FBI last year, be referred and extended to the full House Ethics Committee. This action from the OCE came despite its recommendation that investigations against other members of Congress be dismissed.

PMA Group represented several defense contractors in obtaining valuable earmarks in bills, allegedly in exchange for campaign donations to various political campaigns. If Congressman Tiahrt was in fact involved in this “pay for play” scheme, he should be ashamed of himself. Our country has enough economic troubles at the moment and should not have to contend with congressional earmarks inserted in legislation primarily for the purpose of lining campaign war chests. The state of Kansas and the United States of America deserve better.