There’s the way things LOOK…and the way things really ARE.  Either way, Harry Reid’s family of sons making their careers as lobbyists reeks of political opportunism.  Didn’t a single one  want to be a Fireman?  A Doctor?

A decade ago, the Los Angeles Times was the first to investigate Senator Harry Reid noting that THREE of Reid’s FOUR sons at the time were LOBBYISTS.  Each Reid boy worked for Nevada’s largest law firm, Lionel, Sawyer & Collins. All of them have benefited from Reid’s position.

Here’s how the Los Angeles Times put it:

“Harry Reid is in a class by himself. One of his sons and his son-in-law lobby in Washington for companies, trade groups and municipalities seeking Reid’s help in the Senate. A second son has lobbied in Nevada for some of those same interests, and a third has represented a couple of them as a litigator.

In the last four years alone, their firms have collected more than $2 million in lobbying fees from special interests that were represented by the kids and helped by the senator in Washington. Apparently such activities are not illegal. They should be. Harry Reid has four sons who all work for Nevada’s largest law firm, Lionel, Sawyer & Collins. All of them have benefited by Reid.”

Following the Times story, media-sensitive Senator Reid banned all family lobbying from his office. HOW TRANSPARENT!  Now, over a decade later a new story of “favoring family” has emerged because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is now backing ENN Mojave Energy LLC.  A most important client of his son…RORY.  From Western Center for Journalism blog:

“Reid is pushing for a Chinese company he played a key role in recruiting to Nevada, ENN Mojave Energy LLC. The company plans a billion-dollar solar energy manufacturing and generating plant near Laughlin, but an ambitious development schedule is being threatened by a lack of green power customers.

Steve Tetreault quoted Reid as saying the project “would start tomorrow if NV Energy would purchase the power,” but the company “has not been willing to work on this and that’s such a shame.”

The most recent, and perhaps the most blatant example of Senator Reid using his influence has been reported by the LAS VEGAS SUN.  Suddenly, son Josh Reid becomes the “favorite” for the job of City Attorney in Henderson, even over the CITY ATTORNEY:

“According to the Las Vegas Sun, in January 2012,  Reid’s son, Josh received a $200,000 a year job as City Attorney, because his father made some “calls.”  The other candidate for city attorney, was the interim CITY ATTORNEY!

“In a controversial vote that one resident at the meeting called “disgusting” and “nepotism,” the Henderson City Council unanimously appointed Josh M. Reid, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s son, to be the next city attorney.

Josh Reid, chosen by a 4-0 vote, will be paid a salary of up to $199,000 a year, not including benefits. Council members also said they will add a one-year probation period for the position.

Members of the council cited Josh Reid’s experience in the private sector and a desire to bring in someone from outside of the city attorney’s office as reasons he stood out among the other candidates.

Reid and interim City Attorney Christine Guerci-Nyhus were the finalists for the job. Neither was at the meeting.

A number of people at Tuesday’s meeting said they felt Reid would be selected because of pressure from his father, who contacted some council members after his son applied for the job.”

The outcome says it all…Josh Reid is now the City Attorney for the metropolis of Henderson, Nevada.

And Harry Reid is grandstanding about Mitt Romney’s ancient tax returns?

Read even more here:

http://www.westernjournalism.com/exclusive-investigative-reports/harry-reids-dirty-laundry/

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Filed under: Economy, Featured, Inside The KC, Politics, Uncategorized by Sonja Eddings Brown, Aug 8, 2012