Now that's service!

Despite being investigated by the FBI, lobbying group PMA still managed to score earmarks in the proposed budget bill for some of its clients.

Clients of a defense lobby shop under investigation are continuing to score earmarks from their patrons in Congress, despite the firm being on the verge of shutting its doors permanently.

Several clients of The PMA Group, which was raided by the FBI in November, are slated to receive earmarks worth at least $8 million in the omnibus spending bill funding the federal government through the rest of fiscal 2009, according to a list of projects put together by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) .

“If clients of a lobbying firm currently under federal investigation are receiving earmarks in it, this bill has not received adequate scrutiny,” said Flake, who for years has crusaded against earmarks.

Many of these earmarks are requested for companies that are generally in the requesting lawmakers' district or vicinity. Most of them come from the Energy and Water appropriations subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.).

Visclosky has had a longstanding relationship with PMA--his former chief of staff was one of the top lobbyists at the firm. PMA and its employees was the single largest donor to Visclosky's campaigns.

That will make a great sales pitch for PMA: If we can gain earmarks for you while being investigated by the FBI, imagine what we can do for you once they lose interest in us."