I don't know how all these government contracts work, but I find it amazing that Tom DeLay (Texas-R) was able to get big, big money for Texas. What a coincidence that the majority leader's home state has won all this money for projects!!!
The Port of Houston was awarded $35.3 million by the Port Security Grant Program. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3352049
Tom DeLay was also able to secure money for Texas highways.
http://tomdelay.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=31834
'Washington, Jul 29 - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) today announced significant transportation funding increases for Texas, bringing highway funding levels to the highest in state history.
DeLay led the effort to bring equity for "donor" states like Texas by increasing the current rate-of-return formula. As a result, federal transportation funding for Texas will grow by nearly 40 percent over the previous highway bill, TEA-21, and the state will receive an additional $788 million per year over the next five years in core program growth.'
When Tom DeLay is your friend, you are likely to learn some of his fundraising tricks. Here is an article which talks about Tom DeLay's friends and how they raise money. http://www.ncrp.org/ar0502051.asp
While reading the article, I found a central Ohio connection:
'LEAD ME TO VAIL!
The Lodge at Vail “was a major draw for big political donors in” Q1. Cong. members, led by Rep. Mike Oxley (R-OH) and Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH) “have tripled spending over the last four years to host fund-raisers in Vail, financing their journeys with money provided by donors.” Companies like Morgan Stanley and Fannie Mae gave to leadership PACs, “which legally paid for gear, lift tickets and drinks for lawmakers.” '
Democracy 21 pres Fred Wertheimer: “In essence, the lobbyists are funding the trips. ... Leadership PACs should be abolished.” Lawmakers and aides say “they need leadership PACs to support like-minded members of Congress.” To “get the money, they need a reason for people to attend fund-raisers” (Forsythe/Jensen/Salant, Bloomberg, 5/2).
Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (OH-15) serves on the House Committee on Financial Services. http://financialservices.house.gov/
This describes what the committee does:
The Committee oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries. The Committee also oversees the work of the Federal Reserve, the Treasury, the SEC, and other financial services regulators. (I guess that would be companies like Morgan Stanley and Fannie Mae. Coincidence????)
