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March 31, 2009

Prominent Lobbyist Closes PMA Group After Federal Raid
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A prominent lobbyist with close ties to Democratic Congressman John
Murtha is closing his firm, weeks after federal prosecutors raided his
office and his home. Paul Magliocchetti’s firm, the PMA Group, is one of
the ten largest lobbying firms in Washington. The New York Times says
Magliocchetti helped pioneer the lucrative specialty of helping
contractors lobby for military earmarks, pet spending items that members
of the panel insert in annual spending bills. Magliocchetti is very
close to Murtha, chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Since 1998, employees of PMA have contributed nearly $8 million to
members on the House defense spending panel and $2.4 million to Murtha.



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