On July 29, the Topeka Capital-Journal published a story in which Cong. Jerry Moran (R-KS) responded to a statement I made on June 19 at a fundraiser for Cong. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS). During the rally I stated that in December 2001 Moran sought a campaign fundraiser with Commerce Secretary Don Evans in exchange for his vote on Trade Promotion Authority, a bill aimed at knocking down trade obstacles that would have helped Moran’s rural western Kansas district.
Moran tells the Topeka Capital-Journal, "I never said that and would never say that...It's a very odd allegation. I never talked to Karl Rove or anyone at the White House about this." But, as the vote on Trade Promotion Authority approached, Congressman Jerry Moran did explore receiving a fundraiser with Secretary Don Evans in return for support of the measure.
He may have forgotten the request he made of the White House, but I haven’t. It was my responsibility to tell White House legislative affairs we would not authorize a fundraiser as a quid pro quo for his vote, then alert the Commerce Secretary’s office he should not agree to any fundraising event for the Congressman, and finally make certain the House GOP leadership was alerted to the Congressman’s request and the White House’s rejection of it.
I don’t know what’s worse – the original request or the Congressman’s declaration now that it never happened.
