Friday, October 5, 2012

Different Audience, Different Douglass

Washington DC Insider and Lobbyist John Douglass Not Being Honest

“No, no I got my pay check but that’s it. I didn’t lobby for clients or anything. I didn’t do any lobbying period. I just happened to be registered.” John Douglass, Star News, 9/25/12 

BUT

Yes, yes I was, I was a registered lobbyist for about a year.…. And so if those are the wrong things…I’m guilty.” – John Douglass, Public Event, 8/21/12

AND FURTHER

“I was a registered lobbyist for about 9 months.” – John Douglass, Star News, 9/25/12

 

CHATHAM, VA. – Washington D.C. insider and lobbyist John Douglass has once again been caught not being honest with 5th District voters.  In a recent Star News interview he claims that on one hand he was not a lobbyist and on the other hand he was.  In statements he made at a campaign meeting earlier this year, he explicitly states that he lobbied.  John Douglass has chosen to deliberately misrepresent his previous record as a lobbyist.  If he is willing to make these patently false statements to reporters and 5th District voters, how can we trust him in Washington.  While John Douglass denied that he had engaged in any lobbying the firm that employed him paints a very different picture.  The end of year disclosures for the Aerospace Industries Association in 2006 and 2007 show that John Douglass lobbied in 10 different areas on their behalf, in everything from Export Controls to Tax Credits for his corporate clients.  The people of the 5th District deserve better from those who wish to represent them in Congress. 

Star News Interview:

Questioner:  General Douglass, I would like to know how long you worked as a federal lobbyist and how much money you made?

John Douglass “I was a registered lobbyist for about 9 months and I actually never did any lobbying. It was right near the end of my time as the head of the Aerospace Industry Association and they had us all register there, all the officers of the non-profit association, just to be on the safe side. But since I was on the outward bound track and we were hiring a new president and CEO, I actually never did any lobbying.”

FACT CHECK: As shown in forms filed by the Aerospace Industries Association, the firm where Douglass served as CEO and a top lobbyist, Mr. Douglass was registered as a lobbyist for over a year.  From October 6, 2006 until December 31, 2007.  Clearly longer than he claimed in his interview.

Aerospace Industries Association Lobbying Disclosure Forms:

http://www.scribd.com/RobertHurt4Congress/collections

 

Questioner:  So, you didn’t receive any money during that time?

John DouglassNo, no I got my pay check but that’s it. I didn’t lobby for clients or anything. I didn’t do any lobbying period. I just happened to be registered. And I was there for 9 years so it was only the last 9 months. We did it as a pro forma advice from counsel to make sure that if we accidentally did cross the line and do some lobbying that we would be registered but I actually never did any lobbying. 

FACT CHECK: In lobbying disclosure forms filed by the Aerospace Industries Association, John Douglass was paid to lobby for a variety of special interests issues.  Listed below.

        ISSUES JOHN DOUGLASS LOBBIED FOR: 

·         US/China Space Exploration;

·         Foreign Repair Stations;

·         FAA Re-Authorization;

·         R&D Tax Credit;

·         H.R. 758-Establishing an interagency aerospace revitalization task force;

·         Space Acquisitions;

·         AIA Top Policy Issues;

·         Workforce Manufacturing;

·         Unmanned Aerial Vehicles;

·         FY07 Appropriations;

·         FY08 Appropriations;

·         Acquisition Reform;

·         Funding for NASA;

·         NASA Subcontractor Fund;

·         Environmental Issues;

·         Competitiveness Legislation;

·         Foreign Repair Stations;

·         U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement; 

·         Export Controls Reform

Douglass Campaign Event:

Questioner: Sir were you ever a registered lobbyst in Washington DC?

Douglass: Yes, Yes I was, I was a registered lobbyist for about a year.…. And so if those are the wrong things…I’m guilty.

To view full statement click HERE