Study: Senators abusing system

26 Feb 2008 // Despite long-standing calls for tighter ethics regulations in Washington, some U.S. senators still are exploiting loopholes to benefit themselves and their families, a recent report states.

A Washington-based watchdog group on Monday released an analysis that concludes some senators are misusing funds or their position for financial advantage.

Most of the research focuses on officials who paid family members for fundraising and campaign work, and senators whose family members are lobbyists. It also details which senators reimbursed themselves with money from their campaign committees.

The report, released by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, names Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., as the senator with the most family members registered to lobby, at four. The report listed two of Lugar's sons and two daughters-in-law as registered lobbyists.

A spokesman from Lugar's office said there are laws in place to prevent problems with this practice.

"Family members are prohibited by law from lobbying senators, for the purpose of eliminating conflicts of interest," spokesman Andy Fisher said.

Fisher also said one of Lugar's sons is no longer registered as a lobbyist and is now in the real estate business.

Lugar is one of 31 senators who have one or more family members registered to lobby or employed in government affairs. Also on the list is Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., whose father, former Sen. Birch Bayh, is a registered lobbyist.

The report covers the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election cycles.

It states that since 2000, at least 20 members of the Senate used campaign contributions to pay out more than half a million dollars to their relatives, typically for campaign work. A number of senators also paid out nearly $1 million in fees or contributions to family businesses or employers.

Although the practice is not illegal, critics say it illuminates the broader problems with current ethical regulations. Because many corporations and unions donate money to senators' campaign funds, paying this money out to family members is seen as a conflict of interest.

The report shows that Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.; Barack Obama, D-Ill.; and Bayh have been reimbursed by their campaign committees or political action committees, also known as PACs.

Between 2002 and 2006, Bayh's principal campaign committee reimbursed the senator a total of $1,395.41. In 2006, All America PAC gave $1,876 in reimbursements to a corporation that employs the senator's wife.

From 2001 to 2006, Durbin's main campaign committee, Friends of Dick Durbin, reimbursed the senator a total of $72,183.68. Between 2003 and 2005, Obama's authorized campaign committee and PAC reimbursed the senator a total of $5,539.59.

In all, 77 senators have reimbursed themselves through campaign committees, the report states.