Report critiques Congress members' family payments

22 Jun 2007 // Dozens of House of Representatives members, including several from Ohio, have used their campaign funds and offices to benefit family members, says a new report from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The Congress members' actions were legal, but the watchdog group questions whether they should be.

"CREW has rarely been able to verify the qualifications of relatives on the campaign payroll, but the legitimacy of at least some payments -- those made to children, for example -- appears dubious," the 149-page report says. "It is also legal for the close relatives of members to lobby, yet the unique access offered to these lobbyists creates a situation ripe for abuse."

The group examined current members of Congress who are chairs or ranking members of House committees and subcommittees, and only looked at the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election cycles. Many of its findings have been previously disclosed in news media including The Plain Dealer. The 44 Democrats and 53 Republicans cited included the following Ohioans:

Concord Township Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette, whose daughter made more than $18,000 working for his campaign over three elections, and whose wife, Jennifer Laptook, is a registered lobbyist.

Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, whose cousin, Kimberly Kucinich, earned more than $35,000 for campaign consulting and fundraising over two elections.

Navarre Republican Rep. Ralph Regula, whose political committees have donated more than $50,000 to the Stark County commissioner campaign of his son Richard, and $1,000 to the township trustee campaign of his son David.

Tiffin Republican Rep. Paul Gillmor, whose campaign committee gave $10,000 in 2005 to the campaign committee of his wife, Karen, a former state senator who serves on the Ohio State Employment Relations Board. The report also chides Gillmor for conducting campaign related business with Old Fort Banking Company, in which he hold stock.

Centerville Republican Rep. Mike Turner, whose re-election committee has paid more than $50,000 for graphic design, production, and other expenses to companies run by his wife, Lori.

The group's examination ignored former members of Congress, like jailed St. Clairsville GOP Rep. Bob Ney, whose 2006 re-election campaign paid his wife, Elizabeth, a bimonthly salarly for months after Ney withdrew from the race, and members of Congress who don't head committees, like Niles Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, whose brother gets a $2,000 monthly salary from the congressman's campaign.

"CREW hopes that this report will shine a spotlight on the troubling practice of lawmakers treating their congressional positions as profit centers for family members," the report said. "Based on these findings, Congress and the FEC should seriously consider changing existing law to end these abuses."