Politico – Egypt’s Lobbyist “had reason to press Wicker”
Bob Livingston, a lobbyist and onetime top House Republican, e-mailed the chiefs of staff for every GOP member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee within nine days of the resolution being introduced last July — giving special attention to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). In all, Livingston talked to Wicker twice on the phone and his firm logged about a dozen contacts with the senator and his staff.
The pro-Egypt pitch found a receptive audience in Wicker, who served three terms with Livingston in the House. Beyond personal ties, however, Livingston had reason to press Wicker. The resolution was introduced just three months after shipbuilder VT Halter Marine celebrated an $807 million deal with Egypt to build four fast missile craft, a deal that brought 300 new jobs to Mississippi.
In a statement to POLITICO, Wicker did not address what effect, if any, the contract had on his view of the resolution, saying that he never opposed it and wanted only to slow it down to improve it.
POLITICO
2/7/11
Magnolia Tribune
