Ethics panel reviewing ties of lawmakers, lobbying group

The House Ethics committee announced Thursday it is looking into allegations of possible misconduct by members of Congress regarding The PMA Group, a now-defunct lobbying firm.

PMA, which was raided by the FBI last year, lobbied primarily on behalf of defense-industry clients seeking earmarks. The company and its clients donated campaign contributions to senior members of the House Appropriations Committee, including Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, and Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Indiana...

...[Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona], a longtime critic of earmarks, has repeatedly tried to pass a resolution telling the committee to investigate PMA, but his attempts were blocked by Democrats.