It's been awhile since we chatted about Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) but he's been keeping busy what with standing trial for allegedly lying about the value of the gifts and home remodeling services he got from Veco Corp., an oil services company known mostly for bribing Alaskan lawmakers.

Stevens is charged with failing to accurately report the value of the home remodel Veco did on his home in Girdwood, Alaska in his Senate financial disclosure forms. Despite acrobatic efforts on Stevens part to shift blame for filing the false reports to everyone but himself (at last count the Justice Department, his staff, bloggers, Veco CEO Bill Allen's head injury, photographers with wide angle lenses, and his wife are all responsible) he's still on trial and today heard testimony from the Veco big cheese himself, Bill Allen.  

Allen described giving gifts to Stevens (sled dogs, gas grill) and having Veco take charge of the extensive remodel to Stevens' home.  When the remodel was done, Stevens sent a letter to Allen asking for bill so he (Stevens) wouldn't be hit with an ethics charge, then suggested he talk with their mutual friend Bob Persons who helped oversee the renovations:

Allen said he didn't send Stevens a bill or invoice after the note, but as promised in the letter, he did have a conversation with Persons. Allen testified that Persons told him, "Don't worry about getting a bill; Ted's just covering his ass."

Even if he did get a bill you know Stevens would have slipped Allen a white envelope filled with Monopoly money and a card that read: "Thanx 4 chalet - look forward 2 catching up on lobbyist fishing trip this summer. KIT!  Love, Teddy P.S. this sled dog takes up 2 much of bed, does Veco build dog houses? Something nice, w/deck?"