Study finds nepotism in Congress

Watchdog group names 64 House members in report

27 Jun 2007 // There are least 64 members of Congress who used campaign funds to pay family members, including San Bernardino Reps. Jerry Lewis, Howard “Buck” McKeon and Joe Baca, according to a recent report.

The report, released by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Government, lists 64 congressmen who have either paid a family member, has a family member that is a lobbyist, made a contribution to a family member’s political campaign, paid a company in which a family member has a financial interest or has used a position to benefit a family member.

According to the study, Republican McKeon’s campaign committee paid his wife, Patricia McKeon, $110,806 in salary and an additional $10,528 forreimbursements.

“We have always followed the rules,” said McKeon, who represents Victorville. “Patricia only gets paid for the work she does, and that’s the right thing to do.”

Republican Jerry Lewis employs his wife, Arlene, as his chief of staff. She is paid a salary of nearly $111,000.

No one from Lewis’ officereturned calls for comment.

House rules prohibit the hiring of a spouse to work on a congressman’s staff, but this doesn’t violate that rule because she worked for him before they were married.

Democratic Rep. Joe Baca’s campaign committee has employed family members and contributed to his sons’ political campaigns. Baca’s press secretary returned a phone call but did not have a statement regarding the report.

There is no law against any practices that were found in the study.

Rep. Adam Schiff, DBurbank, and Rep. Mike Castle, R-Delaware, are trying to change the laws. They are introducing a bill that wouldprohibit congressional candidates and members from paying their spouses from campaign funds. Other relatives could be hired but only if their status is disclosed.

“I always thought that there’s an ethical conflict there,” said Assemblyman Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia, who said he sees it on the state level as well. “It should be discouraged at every turn.”

Adams said that he would be for a similar bill if it was ever introduced at the state level.

“It doesn’t do the member any favors because it reflects badly on them,” Adams added.