Lawmakers used campaign funds to pay relatives

[maddezmom]

Source: USA Today

By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Seventy-two members of the House of Representatives spent $5.1 million in campaign funds to pay relatives or their relatives' companies or employers during the past six years, a liberal watchdog group says in a report to be released Monday.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) found nearly $3.5 million in campaign payments to relatives during the past three election cycles, from 2001 to 2006. Campaigns paid about $1.6 million to firms owned by or employing the lawmakers or their relatives, the group found.

It is not illegal for federal candidates to pay family members for political work, as long as they are paid fair market value, the Federal Election Commission has ruled. Some would like to change the law because of recent investigations.

Reps. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Mike Castle, R-Del., introduced a bill this month that would prohibit congressional candidates from paying their spouses with campaign funds and require campaigns to disclose family relationships with close relatives on the payroll.




Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-17-campaign-funds_N.htm?csp=34

[liberalnurse]

1. I think if one works

they are entitled to equal wages . It is discrimination otherwise .

[rodeodance]

3. yes, I agree.

[burrowowl]

2. Well, there is something

called nepotism!

[liberalnurse]

4. Campaigns are frequently a family effort.

There is a tremendous amount of time, energy, lack of sleep, lack of nutrition and quality family time when a "virgin" campaign is embarked. Family members work really hard and should not be expected or forced to donate months of hours because they are related to the candidate.

Equal pay I say!

[Up2Late]

5. "...It is not illegal for federal candidates to pay family members for political work..." so...

...why, again should I care? :shrug:

I'm really beginning to get tired of Melanie Sloan and her so-called "liberal watchdog group" CREW. While she has turned up some important things. over the last few years, she frequently goes after these "It's not illegal, but..." stories in what looks like an effort to look "fair and balanced" or just to try to make "a mountain out of a mole hill" in what, in my opinion, is an effort to keep getting mentions in the MSM.

This seems to fit their pattern of pronouncing the Congress People Guilty until proven Innocent. If they would stick to actual crimes or at least the ones that look obvious wrong, I would have less of a problem with what they do.

For example, this list from USAToday would look much less impressive if it only contained the entries in Bold type:

The 10 firms owned by or employing relatives that got the most campaign funds from Congress members 2001-06:
Member ------------- Company paid ------------- Relationship ------------- Total
Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. ------------- Collins and Day----------- Husband's company (John Marshall Collins)------------ $285,481
Bob Filner, D-Calif. ------------- Campaign Resources ------------- Wife's company (Jane Filner) ------------- $249,004
Howard Berman, D-Calif. ------------- Berman & D'Agostino ------------- Brother's company (Michael Berman) ------------- $195,000
Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo. ------------- Law Offices of Michelle Clay ------------- Sister's company (Michelle Clay) ------------- $139,314
Gary Miller, R-Calif. ------------- G. Miller Development ------------- Self ------------- $124,725
Maxine Waters, D-Calif. ------------- Progressive Connections ------------- Daughter's employer (Karen Waters) ------------- $111,124
Ric Keller, R-Fla. ------------- Hammon & Associates ------------- Wife's employer (Danielle Michel) ------------- $74,909
Ralph Hall, R-Texas ------------- Hall Law Offices ------------- Son's company (Blakeley Hall)------------- $68,000
Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. ------------- John Marshall Collins P.C. ------------- Husband's company (John Marshall Collins) ------------- $62,705
Michael Turner, R-Ohio ------------- Turner Marketing ------------- Wife's company (Lori Turner) ------------- $51,099

The 10 individual family members who received the most campaign funds from members of Congress 2001-06.:
Member ------------- Person Paid ------------- Relationship ------------- Total
Buck McKeon, R-Calif. ------------- Patricia McKeon ------------- Wife ------------- $263,168
Ralph Hall, R-Texas ------------- Jody Hall ------------- Daughter-in-law ------------- $181,470
Pete Stark, D-Calif. ------------- Deborah Stark ------------- Wife ------------- $176,800
Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. ------------- Rhonda Rohrabacher ------------- Wife ------------- $169,009
Ron Paul, R-Texas ------------- Lori Pyeatt ------------- Daughter ------------- $163,890 *
Dan Burton, R-Ind. ------------- Danielle Sarkins ------------- Daughter ------------- $143,900
Collin Peterson, D-Minn. ------------- Elliott Peterson ------------- Son ------------- $127,747
Bart Stupak, D-Mich. ------------- Laurie Stupak ------------- Wife ------------- $125,236 **
Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. ------------- Margaret Hunter ------------- Daughter-in-law ------------- $105,353
Louie Gohmert R-Texas ------------- Kathy Gohmert ------------- Wife ------------- $95,703

* — Ron Paul's total rises to $175,509 with additional payments to three other family members.

** — Bart Stupak's total rises to $132,036 with an additional $6,800 payment to his son, Kenneth Stupak.