Academic

EARMARKS FOR DEFECTIVE HELMETS: THE PMA CONNECTION: The Army has issued a recall of more than 34?

By Glenn Reynolds

EARMARKS FOR DEFECTIVE HELMETS: THE PMA CONNECTION:

The Army has issued a recall of more than 34,000 advanced-combat helmets that failed ballistics tests, a move certain to attract scrutiny on Capitol Hill. But an added element of intrigue that may also catch lawmakers? attention is the firm that lobbied on behalf of the helmet?s manufacturer: the PMA Group. . . .

Gentex Corp. in Carbondale, Pa., manufactures those helmets and is based in Rep. Chris Carney?s (D) district. Gentex has received earmarks sponsored by the lawmaker in recent years. In the 2008 defense appropriations bill, for example, Carney and Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) earmarked $2.7 million for improved performance for helmet displays and life support technologies.

Gentex hired the PMA Group in 1999 and has spent close to $2 million for the lobby shop?s services since then. PMA closed its doors at the end of March after the FBI raided the firm in the fall and began investigating its owner, Paul Magliocchetti, for alleged illegal campaign contributions to lawmakers.

The PMA Group and its lobbyists were the top contributors to Carney?s reelection campaign, pitching in $41,500, according to data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics. The same data indicate that Gentex was Carney?s fifth campaign contributor.

Gentex, which has been supplying the Pentagon with various products since the 1930s, has since hired the Federal Business Group ? a consultancy started by six former PMA lobbyists.

Read the whole thing. And remember the Democrats’ “defective armor” talking point from a couple of elections ago? Not sure there’s any more to this, but sauce for the goose . . .

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on May 08, 2009 (boomark / email).