The Tampa Tribune reports that US Rep. Katherine Harris (R, FL) will not follow the lead of President Bush and return $20,000 in campaign contributions from the crime-linked extended Rubashkin-Balkany family.
At the same time, the USDA just can't seem to release its report on AgriProcessors – and seems to have no idea when – or if – it will do so. At this rate, the USDA may stall until after the 2006 elections.
Coincidence?
Don't be too sure. The Rubashkin-Balkany family is closely tied to many Republican politicians, and are likely to donate (perhaps using family members that because of marriage no longer carry the Rubashkin or Balkany name) tens of thousands of dollars in run-up to the elections.
Perhaps it's time to declare an Amber Alert and send out search parties to find the USDA report – and to find out who has been sitting on it.