SOURCE: Obscure Trade Settlement Could Create $480 Million Slush Fund for

[CHIMO]

The resolution of an obscure trade dispute involving imports of Canadian lumber to the United States could result in a $480 million slush fund for the White House, according to a lawyer familiar with the case.

ThinkProgress contacted the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative. A spokesman said that he didn’t know if the White House would be involved in dispersing the funds or if Congress would be consulted, and was doubtful he would “be able to discern” this information in the future.

The fact that hundreds of millions of dollars may be headed to the White House with no oversight raises the possibility of abuse — especially five months before a federal election. This is a significant amount of money and the administration should explain exactly how it will be spent and who will be overseeing the process.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/12/white-house-slush-fund

Interesting. The item was pointed out by Canuck55 in an item on softwood lumber in the Canadian forum.

Sort of foreign money, in a legal way, going into politics.