Chairman fires back over relationship with lobbyist

House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) on Tuesday defended his romantic relationship with an airline industry lobbyist, saying he has gone “above and beyond” the rules that are required to disclose the relationship.

{mosads}”One of the things is, it’s a personal and private relationship, but I think I’ve gone above and beyond what the rules require … what the law requires to make sure that we’re doing things appropriately,” he said at an event hosted by National Journal.

“I know a lot of people in this town who are lobbyists, but I think we can do these things as professionals,” he continued.

Shuster has been accused of impropriety because he is dating a lobbyist for the group that represents the airline industry before Congress at a time when lawmakers are also considering a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding measure that is scheduled to expire later in the year.

The Pennsylvania Republican said Tuesday that the relationship would have no impact on his work on the upcoming FAA funding bill.

“I think people in this town know my integrity level,” he said. “I’m going to be at the table. I’ve got a lot of stakeholders. I guarantee you everyone is going to walk away from this deal hopefully saying ‘well it’s pretty good. It’s not perfect.’ “

The relationship between Shuster and Airlines For America Global Government Affairs Vice-President Shelley Rubino was first reported by Politico.

— This report was updated at 11:22 a.m.