LAT: The US attorney's office in Los Angeles has opened an investigation into Jerry Lewis (R-CA), the powerful chair of the House Appropriations committee, and his connections to congressman-turned-lobbyist Bill Lowery:

The government is looking into the connection between Lewis and his longtime friend Bill Lowery, the sources said. Lowery, a lobbyist, is a former congressman from San Diego.

As chairman of the Appropriations panel, Lewis has earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts for many of Lowery's clients, one of the sources said.

Here's some extensive background on the Lewis-Lowery relationship, from Copley News Services' Jerry Kammer.

Posted by Laura at May 11, 2006 07:33 AM