Today we covered the San Diego Union-Tribune's Sunday article relating to Congressman "Duke" Cunningham's testimony as it relates to local Congressman John Doolittle and concerning campaign contributions.
You can read the San Diego Union-Tribune's piece, then listen to my interview with Congressman Richard Pombo surrounding spouse's working as "campaign consultants" for their husband's PAC and campaign fund stockpiles.
Listen to my interview with Congressman Pombo.
I find it bothersome that wives become political consultants immediately following their husbands nomination as committee chairs in Washington DC. How hard is it to organize campaign fund raisers and donations when your husband sits at the chairman on the Appropriations Committee?
Consultants normally collect 15%, and this is money that does NOT end up in the PAC or the Campaign Vault. It ends up in the family checking account. Why are the Congressmen allowed to hire immediate family members? Create a firewall between the cash and the personal checking accounts!
When you are playing with business before the government, and you are the chairman inside of the committee, it is very concerning to read that the spouses are taking in 15%.
Should we make this illegal, no immediate family members collecting commissions?
Should we create a 'blind trust' for the congressman, releasing the congressman from the presentation of quid pro quo or family commissions for government favors?
I'm a defender of raising as much campaign cash (free speech) as a candidate can collect, but it is somewhat unethical in my eyes - the voters too - to have a novice spouse performing as the professional consultant, just so you can gather 15% commission of off thousands of donated dollars. It may not be illegal, but it doesn't pass the 'smell test' in my opinion.
This is something that the Republicans might want to address as they drive toward campaign finance reform.
