Ross: 'leftist' outlet dug up questionable real estate deal

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), a leading Blue Dog in the healthcare debate, on Wednesday dismissed a story about a 2007 real estate deal that may pose a conflict of interest as spurred by a "leftist 'news' organization."

Ross sold he owned named Holly's Health Mart in a small Arkansas town to USA Drug, a chain of pharmacies for $420,000, a price that is well-above the market price for the building, according to ProPublica, who first reported the story.

The congressman tweeted:

Arkansas Democrat Gazette clears the air on misleading story on me by leftist, "news" organization. Today's front page. http://bit.ly/28kWin

In the linked article, Ross insisted he sold the Prescott, Ark. property for a "fair price."

ProPublica bills itself as "an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest" that produces "journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them."

The article claims that the county assessors office valued the pharmacy, which is named for Ross' wife Holly, and the land it sits on were valued at a combined $236,000 at the time of the sale.

ProPublica also wrote that USA Drug's owner Stephen LaFrance, Jr. made a $2,300 campaign contribution to Ross two weeks after the sale closed.

Cross-posted to the Briefing Room