McCain non-profit reveals lobbyist ties

WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- Likely Republican U.S. presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's work with a non-profit group reveals deep ties to lobbyists, The New York Times reported Monday.

The group, called the International Republican Institute, was set up to promote the values of democracy to closed to societies but has become a forum for well-heeled lobbyists to offer big-money donations to a group with strong connections to the Republican Party, the newspaper said. McCain, R-Ariz., is the Institute's chairman.

The newspaper said the Institute operates without the kind of financial restrictions placed on political campaigns and under McCain's leadership it has raised millions of dollars for its democracy-spreading work from some 560 defense contractors, lobbying firms, oil companies and other corporations, many of whom had pending legislation before Senate committees McCain was on.

McCain declined to talk to the Times for the story but a campaign spokesman said McCain "has never requested nor offered to take a position on legislation in exchange for, or because of, contributions to I.R.I."