Liberal Watchdog Group Attacks Leading Blue Dog

The Liberal watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has filed a complaint against Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., over the sale of his family owned pharmacy to USA Drug. The complaint alleges that the amount of the sale was greater than the assessed property value. Rep. Ross called the allegation a "bogus ... political stunt." He claims he sold an active business, not just a building. Rep. Ross said the $420,000 transaction reflected a 4 percent annual return on a $316,000 investment he made in 1998. Ross is the head of the Blue Dogs' health care task force and an opponent of the government-run option. Rep Ross has been called Obama's #1 obstacle to health care reform.

MSNBC reported:

The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington questioned in a complaint whether the $420,000 that USA Drug paid Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., for his family-owned Holly's Health Mart in Prescott was a fair price. The deal was first reported this week by the Web site ProPublica.

Documents show that, after the sale, the Nevada County assessor valued the property at $263,700. An appraiser hired by ProPublica valued it recently at $198,000.

Ross on Wednesday called the complaint a "bogus ... political stunt" and has said there was nothing improper about the sale. He said the $420,000 transaction reflected a 4 percent annual return on a $316,000 investment he made in 1998.

Liberals like Rachel Maddow are buzzing in excitement.

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