Politics | Pete Sessions Anti-Earmark Rep. Scores Earmark for Blimp Research Sessions' $1.6M went to firm not in his district By Matt Cantor Posted Jul 30, 2009 12:21 PM CDT Copied Rep. Pete Sessions, flanked by House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., right, and Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., addresses the media holding up a tire pump, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson) Rep. Pete Sessions is a vocal opponent of earmarks, but last year he scored one for a company that's not even in his district. Thanks to Sessions, $1.6 million for airship research went to a firm with no experience in either government contracting or blimp-making, Politico reports. Seems that a lobbyist who has made more than $446,000 working for the Illinois company—and has a criminal record—is a former aide to Sessions, the GOP’s House campaign head. A rep for Sessions said the blimp would be a good use of federal money and would create jobs in Sessions’ district—but the firm is based in Illinois, with a branch in San Antonio, 300 miles from Sessions’ Dallas-area district. A firm exec says he and his father are “business people” overseeing the project and “have obtained world-class experts to work for us.” Read These Next Mark Zuckerberg's 'list' has Silicon Valley buzzing. Hall of Famer Dave Parker dies IAEA chief downplays damage to Iran nuclear sites. That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Report an error