CREW: 96 Congresspersons Benefit Family Members

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/29095
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/For_some_members_of_Congress_politics_0618.html

CREW RELEASES NEW REPORT DETAILING HOUSE CHAIR, RANKING AND LEADERSHIP MEMBERS’ USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO BENEFIT FAMILY

18 Jun 2007 // Washington, DC – Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its first-ever analysis of the misuse of power by the chairmen and ranking members of all House of Representative committees and subcommittees, as well as top leadership positions, to financially benefit their family members. The new report, Family Affair, names 96 members from 33 states: 41 Democrats and 55 Republicans.

To view the report, please visit the Family Affair website page.

CREW decided to undertake the study in light of several well publicized cases of members of Congress using their positions to enrich their family members. CREW examined 337 members of the House over the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election cycles.

Highlights of the report include:

64 paid family members through their campaign committees or PACs (26 Democrats and 38 Republicans);
24 have relatives who lobby Congress (10 Democrats and 14 Republicans);
19 used their campaign committees or PACs to pay a family business or a business that employs a family member (9 Democrats and 10 Republicans);
17 used their campaign funds to make campaign contributions to relatives (11 Democrats and 6 Republicans);
15 used their positions to benefit a family member or a family member’s client (3 Democrats and 12 Republicans);
At least 7 paid offspring who ranged from school-age to college-age (all Republicans)

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