PORKBUSTERS UPDATE: Flake Uses Lobbying Scandal To Push Earmark Case:

A growing scandal over a lobbying firm specializing in defense issues has given U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake his latest target in an ongoing crusade against earmarks.

The fifth-term congressman, an ardent fiscal conservative who has at times bucked even his own party’s leadership, has offered seven privileged resolutions to various spending measures seeking an investigation into the PMA Group, a lobbying firm with close ties to several powerful members of Congress.

PMA Group, which was raided by the FBI in November, was run by former aides to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and several other top Democrats.

The committee handles all defense spending measures, making it one of the most lucrative targets for lobbyists. In 2008, PMA earned $13.5 million for its lobbying efforts. The company has secured $113 million in contracts for its clients since 1998. . . . Other top defense appropriators, including Reps. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind.; Norm Dicks, D-Wash., and Jim Moran, D-Va., have also been major recipients of the lobbying firm’s contributions. In 2008, CRP data show PMA gave $237,500 to Democrats and $141,000 to Republicans.

The firm’s founder, Paul Magliocchetti, was a former chief of staff in Murtha’s congressional office, while two other PMA lobbyists served in the same capacity for Visclosky and Moran.

In the wake of the scandal, which has shut down PMA Group and led many of its lobbyists to open a new firm not associated with Magliocchetti, Flake has stepped in to try and force an investigation.

Read the whole thing. Plus, questions about Rep. Norm Dicks and PMA.