Posted on 08/26/2007 9:01:20 PM PDT by kellynla
SACRAMENTO -- A California congressman who recently won House approval of a bill that would prevent federal legislators from placing spouses on their campaign payrolls has joined advocates for clean government in calling for the state to also prohibit the controversial practice.
More than a dozen state lawmakers, including top legislative leaders, have paid $1.12 million in campaign cash -- raised from special interests -- to spouses, sons, daughters and companies that employed them during the last seven years, records show.
The spouses' income is on top of the state legislators' more than $113,000 annual salary.
Defenders of the practice say it is legal in California. It is proper as long as the spouse does the work paid for, they say.
But critics say that allowing campaigns to hire the wives or husbands of lawmakers can give special interests more influence by allowing them, through political contributions, to help fatten the wallets of elected officials.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) won House approval of a bill last month that he said would end the "potentially corrupt practice" of members of Congress writing big checks from donor funds to their spouses for services.
"When it's the spouse who gets campaign money, it goes directly into the officeholder's pocket and that's a grievous conflict of interest," Schiff, a former state senator, said. His wife, Eve, is a former marketing researcher who is a stay-at-home mom and does not work for pay on his campaigns.Although his bill has gone to the U.S. Senate for consideration, Schiff said California should follow the lead of seven other states, including Connecticut, Ohio and Texas, that also have outlawed the payments to spouses.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
ping
This goes into the "even a broken clock is right twice a day" file.
yep
Strange how the Dems had no problem with this practice when Condit was in office and on his way out. Chad and Cadee managed to pull in $100 grand each from Gary’s PAC.
Officials recently dropped the charges against Condit’s spawn.
Hmmmmmmmmmm,the word NEPOTISM comes to mind !!!
So now they can only hire their children, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and other relatives?
Can one Congress-critter’s spouse work for another Congress-critter’s PAC, and in turn, another Congress-critter’s spouse work for first Congress-critter’s PAC?
That would be interesting take on “spouse-swapping”, maybe they can even form a “Congressional swing ring”?
They'll find a way around this in a minute. This is probably one of many ways that a $150K+/yr congressman can make millions over the long run. Congress should have a two term limit with a five year ban on running or working for a PAC afterward. Political dynasties breed corruption many layers deep.
The problem isn’t with spouses working, the problem is with the corrupt jerks that continue to get elected and the corrupt special interests buying favors. This will solve nothing, IMO. They will always find a way.
The one person that has done more to save the capitol of CA from it'self, along with the Bay Delta and most of CA's water supply by simply trying repeatedly to secure a CONgressional authorization to finish a dam and reservoir that was 2/3rds done in 1977 on the steepest watershed in CA... To say nothing of stopping the pressure on levees that are far more dangerous than those in New Orleans...
They haven't charged him with violating one danged law, yet they have made a huge federal case of Mrs. Doolittle's efforts on the Congressman's behalf that pales in view of Mrs. Matsui's and many, many other spouses in the Demonicrat Party inside the beltway!!!
I am so terribly sick of the stupid "double standard!" It's beyond pathetic! Way, way beyond!! And it appears it's never going to stop unless people like FReepers protest it passionately!!!
BTW, I still think Doolittle was an idiot to come out supporting the scummy Brent Wilkes. That was the thing that made my radar go up. Other than that, I was waiting and looking for any evidence of his wrongdoing.
Well, I’m not in love with him, but I do find all the fair weather friends in the political arena just totally disgusting!!! He did quite a bit to help my little foray into political citizenship dues paying... Whatever. Phhhhhhhht!!!
I just noticed I lost my tagline! Thank you for excusing me while I re-attached it!!! (did you divert your eyes?)
Throwing cologne on a cess pool.
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