Memo shows 'A Team' of lobbyists connected to Don Young
Originally published Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 12:11 a.m.
Updated Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 12:15 p.m.
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Stumble It!WASHINGTON — Rep. Don Young’s critics have long accused the 18-term congressman of being too cozy with special interests. But now, a government watchdog group says it has an internal office memo showing an “A Team” of former staffers and members of Congress, all now lobbyists, with direct access to Young.
Meredith Kenny, spokeswoman for Young, called the document “incredibly outdated” and said it was pieced together by former interns.
The memo is an unofficial guide for new interns, entitled “The 2111: An Intern’s Survival Guide,” that offers practical advice on how to survive working for the notoriously gruff congressman.
The “2111” refers to Young’s office number in the Rayburn office building on Capitol Hill.
“Aside from the humorous and interesting insights into what interns can expect working in Rep. Young’s office, the instructions revealed who is regarded as the ‘A Team’ in that office,” said Stephen Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, which released copies of the internal memo to the press.
Taxpayers for Common Sense said it received the internal memo from a former intern who was given it last year by Mike Anderson, Young’s chief of staff.
The two-page document offers instructions on how to handle everything from phone calls from constituents to the requests of Young’s wife, Lula Young, a constant presence in the office who, according to the guide, “does not permit noise from computers.”
Kenny said the document does not reflect official office policy.
“It’s always interesting to see how students view their intern experience,” Kenny said. “It appears that some of what they have written is tongue-in-cheek, some to help relieve the daily stresses of working on Capitol Hill.”
Among the special instructions contained in the guide are the names of nine transportation lobbyists who interns are supposed to let talk to any staff member they want.
“These people can talk to whomever they want, normally Mike (Anderson) or Sara (Parsons),” the guide states. Parsons is Young’s former executive assistant.
The list includes Rick Alcalde, Colin Chapman, Jack Ferguson, Randy DeLay, Billy Lee Evans, Mike Henry, Jay Dickey, Duncan Smith and C.J. Zane.
“As for those listed, they include either former staffers, who represent Alaskans, or close friends and former colleagues of Rep. Young, whom he has known for many years,” Kenny said.
Those on the list had no special access, Kenny said.
Alcalde is tied to an ongoing federal investigation into the $10 million earmark for a Florida interchange study project Young placed in the 2005 highway bill when he was chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Alcalde worked for Florida Gulf Coast University, which requested the interchange study.
Ferguson is a well-known Alaska lobbyist who formerly served as Sen. Ted Stevens chief of staff and previously administered Young and Stevens’ joint leadership political action committee.
Zane, Smith, Henry and Chapman all previously worked on Young’s staff. Evans and Dickey are former congressmen.
The memo states that interns are supposed to check with Anderson or Parsons when other callers, including lawmakers and federal officials, contact the office.
“This discrete list of lobbyists are able to jump the line,” Ellis said. “They have a free pass through the office’s gatekeepers.”
The office’s official guide for interns makes no mention of special instructions for dealing with lobbyists, Kenny said. Furthermore, Kenny said, staff does not refer to any lobbyists as the “A Team.”
The watchdog group is not accusing Young of any wrongdoing, nor is the memo evidence of misconduct.
Young, 74, faces one of the toughest re-election bids of his 35-year congressional career thanks, in part, to an ongoing federal probe into his ties to lobbyists and his use of earmarks. Young has not been charged with a crime and denies any wrongdoing.
Ellis said some of the other advice contained in the memo ranges from funny to inspiring.
Interns are advised that Young doesn’t like facial piercings or people who keep their hands in their pockets. Interns are also encouraged to make the most of their time with Young: “Make it what it is. This is the best office on the Hill. Remember that.”
Community Discussion
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BFD
That old goat needs to be replaced immediately.
I see nothing wrong with staffers knowing that certain former employees and others are "approved" to contact whomever they wish. That's no different that saying employees' spouses are to be allowed access. To single them out as "lobbyists" is a cheap shot. They can't find any real "dirt" on Don Young, so they have to invent it.
Like him or not, Don Young has done a great deal for Alaska, and we would be foolish not to send him back to Congress!
"They can't find any real "dirt" on Don Young, so they have to invent it."
Are you a staffer or a blood relative? I'm guessing staffer.
Bedasse: Maybe alaskaflower is the screen-name for Lu.
I strongly suspect Don's family and staffers are the ones posting good things about him. I can't name a single real Alaskan who has anything nice to say about the man.
Neither. Just a long-time Alaskan who has watched Don Young bring home the bacon (call it pork if you wish) for Alaska for many, many years.
"Neither."
Intern? Party operative?
"Like him or not, Don Young has done a great deal for Alaska, and we would be foolish not to send him back to Congress!"
OH puuuleeeeese! Maybe once upon a time! Its been a long time since Don Young ( or Stevens for that matter) has had the pulse of Alaska as his interest.
He needs to go. Its that simple.
It's never to late to teach an old dog a new trick. Come on, bring that pig home dudes.
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