Doolittle against pay bill

28 Jul 2007 // U.S. Rep. John Doolittle has rejected a call by some colleagues in Congress to bar a federal candidate's spouse from being paid by the candidate's campaign or leadership political action committee.

House members decided on a voice vote last week in favor of a bill that was bolstered by a recent report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington that identified 96 members out of 337 using their positions to benefit family members.

Doolittle, R-Roseville, said that he wasn't present on the floor of the House for a vote last Monday that he feels should likely fail in the Senate.

"I don't agree with the policy and I don't believe it will become law," Doolittle said Friday.

Although criticized for his past practice of paying his wife, Julie, a 15 percent commission on campaign fundraising, Doolittle was not part of the group studied. Instead, CREW looked at ranking members and chairs of House committees, as well as the five House leadership positions.

Doolittle said both he and his wife found it interesting that nearly 100 elected officials were identified in the report to have employed family members in some capacity, in light of Julie Doolittle being "pilloried" for her work.

The report identified 44 Democrats and 53 Republicans who "used their positions to benefit family members." Sixty-four (26 Democrats and 38 Republicans) paid family members through their campaign committees or political action committees. As well, 24 (10 Democrats and 14 Republicans) have relatives who lobby Congress.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, agreed that the bill's prospects in the Senate are "probably very poor."

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said colleagues aren't enthusiastic about the change but that as more abuses stack up, it could eventually pass.

"The report shines a spotlight on the troubling practice of lawmakers using their congressional positions as profit centers for family members," Sloan said.

Sloan said the report should help spearhead a public debate leading to changes in existing law to end abuses. Doolittle canceled the arrangement with his wife after a narrow win in the 2006 congressional election for his District Four seat.

Speaking to reporters from Washington in a telephone conference, Doolittle also addressed questions over the possibility that the 2008 congressional election would be his last.

The veteran congressman said that he's intent on running at least one more time because he wants to see a number of projects through to completion. Listing the widening of Interstate 80 at Roseville, the Folsom bridge and the American River pumping station near Auburn, Doolittle said that he wants to steer them and others through to completion.

"I want to ensure that they'll actually happen," Doolittle said. "I've been an effective representative for the district but some people place no value on that - they think it would be a fun sport to bring John Doolittle down. But after that, who will you have? Who will do meaningful work, not send out a press release or just vote yes or no?"