Rossputin.com: Rational Thinking About Our World

The Denver Post reported last week (11/19/07) that Congressman Doug Lamborn got a $1 million earmark for Sturman Industries, a private company in Woodland Park, Colorado, whose chairwoman, Carol Sturman, contributed to Lamborn's 2008 primary campaign fund. (Click HERE to see FEC filing document.)

Even Doug Lamborn is probably not stupid enough to let a $250 contribution cause him to wrangle $1,000,000 out of taxpayers (apparently it was reduced to $800,000 in conference). But he should also have been smart enough to refuse that contribution because of the obvious appearance of a conflict.

I've looked at Sturman Industries' web page and it looks like they do some very interesting work in engine valves and controls. It's the sort of business that one might be very interested in investing in. But unless the government will own shares of the company, they shouldn't be simply giving them money. Sturman apparently already has work with the Department of Defense. They've worked with NASA. The have had partnerships with big companies including Caterpillar and various auto makers.

A 2004 article about the company talks about their "60,000 sq. ft. structure featuring vaulted wooden ceilings, Herman Miller furniture and situated across the valley from the magnificent Pike's Peak". If there is any example of a company that doesn't seem to be starving for cash and which should be able to raise money in the private sector if they needed cash for growth, this is the company.

What sort of fiscal conservative thinks it's OK to transfer money from taxpayers to private business? What sort of congressman thinks that doing so and taking a campaign contribution from that business won't be viewed with suspicion of the politician's integrity, intellect, or both? I guess the answer is "a congressman like Doug Lamborn".