An article in the December 20 edition of the Washington Post raised questions about Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu's role in providing $2 million in federal funding for a reading program for Washington D.C. public schools.

WWL-TV

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana)

The Post reported Landrieu guided the program into federal law in 2001. It happened after the founder of the Voyager Expanding Learning reading program, Randy Best, held a fundraiser that produced $30,000 for Landrieu.

According to the Post, Landrieu, then the chair of the Senate's Appropriations Committee, did not respond to its request for an interview. However, she denied the paper’s allegations in an interview with Eyewitness News.

“None of the money (Best) gave me had anything to do with the earmark that I directed to them for that program,” Landrieu said.

Altogether, Voyager employees and lobbyists reportedly contributed $80,000 to Landrieu, but the Senator said she would continue to recommend the program, whether or not Best made a single dollar contribution to her campaign.

“The program itself is a very successful reading program,” Landrieu said. “It was voluntary. And when I provided the extra help for the District of Columbia children to read, only 11 percent of the children were reading at grade level.”

The Washington Post also alleged that Best met with Landrieu in her senate office where she expressed support for the program and that several days later someone from Landrieu's office called Best to ask if he would be interested in holding a fundraiser.

Landrieu admitted that Best has held fundraisers for her three times over the past several years.

“(Best) is a very impressive person, somebody I believe in, somebody that is doing some great work around the country. This program is one of hundreds of other things that he does,” Landrieu said. “I don't know the time frame of when that happened, but people come into my office all the time. We either sometimes help them, sometimes don't. Sometimes they help us raise money, sometimes they don't.”

The Post said some school officials were not happy about the program. Landrieu said she consulted with the Mayor of Washington D.C. first and insists the program has been a success.

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You can see the full interview with Senator Mary Landrieu on "Sunday Morning with Dennis Woltering" at 10:30 a.m. on Channel 4 and at 12:30 p.m. on WUPL Channel 54.