Shelley Berkley accused

The Carson City shooting spree drowned out a major Nevada political story last week.

In a front page story, the New York Times reported the results of its investigation of U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley of Nevada.

Under the headline “A Congresswoman’s Cause Is Often Her Husband’s Gain,” the Times reported that Berkley has repeatedly used her public offices to aid her husband’s medical practice, his clinics, and a contract he had with University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

“Ms. Berkley’s actions were among a series over the last five years in which she pushed legislation or twisted the arms of federal regulators to pursue an agenda that is aligned with the business interests of her husband, Dr. Larry Lehrner,” the Times alleged. It also posted numerous documents online to aid readers with the story.

Berkley refused to do interviews with the Times but issued her own statement: “I won’t stop fighting to give Nevadans access to affordable health care just because my husband is a doctor, just like I won’t stop standing up for veterans because my father served in World War II.”

The investigative package can be read at www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/us/06berkley.html?scp=1&sq=Lehrner&st=cse