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Offered money to change vote { December 8 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0312/08/-344600.htm http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0312/08/-344600.htm Monday, December 8, 2003 Michigan Rep. Nick Smith told radio station he was offered money to change vote By Dee-Ann Durbin / Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Rep. Nick Smith told a Michigan radio station last week he was promised $100,000 for his son's congressional campaign if he would vote for the Medicare bill, a contention he later said was "technically incorrect." WKZO-AM in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Monday released a Dec. 1 taped interview in which Smith said money was offered. Smith also said some members of Congress threatened to work against his son if he voted against the bill. "They started out by offering the carrot, and they know what's important to every member, and what's important to me is my family and my kids," Smith told the station. "Bradley, my son, is running for office, and so the first offer was to give him $100,000-plus for his campaign and endorsement by national leadership." Smith, R-Mich., was among several lawmakers who were lobbied heavily by GOP leaders to vote for the bill, which was favored by President Bush. It narrowly passed but Smith voted against the bill because he said it was too expensive. Smith wrote a Nov. 23 newspaper column in which he alleged "bribes and special deals were offered to convince members to vote yes." Smith backed away from the allegation last week, telling The Associated Press that someone outside Congress had offered his son "substantial and aggressive campaign support" and Smith assumed that meant financial support. But he said it was "technically incorrect" to say money was offered. Smith has refused to say which lawmakers or business interests were involved. Smith is retiring and his son is running to replace him. He didn't return a telephone call seeking comment on Monday. It is illegal to offer money to a lawmaker to influence a vote. The Justice Department is reviewing requests to investigate what happened with Smith. Smith has said he will cooperate if an investigation is undertaken.

6 democratic candidates attack medicare measure { November 19 2003 } Aarp members burn cards Aarp spends 7m ad campaign supporting gop bill { November 19 2003 } Candidates take on aarp over drug bill Congressman bribed to pass medicare { November 27 2003 } Democrats threaten sue over medicare cost estimates Drug makers protect their turf { November 21 2003 } Drug plan faces enrollment challenge Drug prices for elderly climb 50 percent { July 1 2004 } FDA and states at odds over drugs { February 22 2004 } House probe medciare bribery allegation Medicare administrator withheld cost estimates for congress { September 8 2004 } Medicare costs kept secret Medicare drug benefit will cost more than reported { February 9 2005 } Medicare drug bill could be tough sell { November 17 2003 } Medicare drug cards produce confusion { July 29 2004 } Medicare drug cost estimate increases { January 30 2004 } Medicare reform bill is a disaser { November 28 2003 } Medicare secrecy inquiry is silenced { April 2 2004 } Medicare wont cover cancer drug costs { September 8 2004 } Medicares hidden bonanza { March 4 2004 } New drug benefits too complicated for seniors Nine dems back medicare bill Offered money to change vote { December 8 2003 } Some experts foresee revolt by elderly { November 26 2003 } Top democrats want us house probe on medicare vote US offers senior drug cards amid criticism { May 3 2004 } Files Listed: 27

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