Ethics committee inquired about earmark in Rep. Mack's district

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By Perry Bacon

Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 30, 2009; 12:51 PM

The House ethics committee sought information from Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) regarding a $10 million earmark in his district that connects Coconut Road near Fort Myers to Interstate 75.

A document obtained by The Washington Post shows that the committee requested information from Mack and expected a response by Aug. 28.

The congressman said in a statement released Thursday by his office that the inquiry does not focus on him and that he had no involvement with the project.

"We've been told that we may be a witness to an investigation of others, but we are, of course, not the subject of any investigation," the statement said.

The highway project, which local officials did not back, benefited a Florida developer who gave thousands to Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who at the time headed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Young received $40,000 in contributions from the developer. The developer owned property near the proposed interchange that could be used to build new homes. Mack and Young have each charged the other with pushing for the project, which was inserted into a 2005 highway spending bill at the last minute.