Hot on the heels of a report ranking South Carolina 45th of 50 states for public corruption (real and potential), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has a report out showing how 248 members of the US House benefited themselves and family members with earmarks, campaign and taxpayer-funded jobs, and lobbying ties in the 2008-10 election cycles.
Texas Republican and presidential candidate Ron Paul, who denounced Secret Service protection as "welfare" the other day, took the prize for hiring the most members of his family: six, to whom he paid some $304,000. Florida Republican John Mica has the most lobbyists on his family tree: five. Impeached federal judge and Florida Democrat Alcee Hastings paid his girlfriend over $600,000 for campaign work.
Three of six South Carolina congressmen got in on the gravy train, though in relatively small sums. Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn has the largest family to see to: he paid a son-in-law campaign funds for "community and campaign outreach" and earmarked $225,000 for a wellness center employing his daughter in 2008. He earmarked just over $2,000,000 for the Charleston International African-American Museum between 2008 and 2010; his nephew was the project's architect. His campaign gave $1000 in 2008 to his cousin Bill, a state representative; and his cousin William is a lobbyist.
Freshman congressman Tim Scott cycles campaign money back to himself, reimbursing his promotional firm, Tim Scott & Associates, $7787 for travel and mileage in 2010; his campaign paid Gideon Properties, a company he's a part owner in, $19,800 for office rent.
Congressman Joe ("You Lie!") Wilson reimbursed himself with campaign funds for about $7000 in mileage, transportation, meals and meeting costs; cut a check for $4982 to reimburse his son Addison for "travel and other expenses"; and helped out his son Alan, running for SC attorney general in 2010, with $2500 in campaign donations and a $1000 hire for online media and printing services to Alan's campaign.
Maybe the best we can says is, compared to others, it could be worse. The report is here (.pdf); the SC data is at pp. 268-72.
Texas Republican and presidential candidate Ron Paul, who denounced Secret Service protection as "welfare" the other day, took the prize for hiring the most members of his family: six, to whom he paid some $304,000. Florida Republican John Mica has the most lobbyists on his family tree: five. Impeached federal judge and Florida Democrat Alcee Hastings paid his girlfriend over $600,000 for campaign work.
Three of six South Carolina congressmen got in on the gravy train, though in relatively small sums. Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn has the largest family to see to: he paid a son-in-law campaign funds for "community and campaign outreach" and earmarked $225,000 for a wellness center employing his daughter in 2008. He earmarked just over $2,000,000 for the Charleston International African-American Museum between 2008 and 2010; his nephew was the project's architect. His campaign gave $1000 in 2008 to his cousin Bill, a state representative; and his cousin William is a lobbyist.
Freshman congressman Tim Scott cycles campaign money back to himself, reimbursing his promotional firm, Tim Scott & Associates, $7787 for travel and mileage in 2010; his campaign paid Gideon Properties, a company he's a part owner in, $19,800 for office rent.
Congressman Joe ("You Lie!") Wilson reimbursed himself with campaign funds for about $7000 in mileage, transportation, meals and meeting costs; cut a check for $4982 to reimburse his son Addison for "travel and other expenses"; and helped out his son Alan, running for SC attorney general in 2010, with $2500 in campaign donations and a $1000 hire for online media and printing services to Alan's campaign.
Maybe the best we can says is, compared to others, it could be worse. The report is here (.pdf); the SC data is at pp. 268-72.
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