Ethics report cites 96 in Congress

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THE WASHINGTON TIMES Nearly 100 members of Congress "misuse" their committee positions and leadership posts to employ family members, an independent watchdog group said in a report released yesterday.

The Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) says 96 members of Congress from 33 states have used their offices to "financially benefit" family members. The list includes 41 Democrats and 55 Republicans.

"Our hope is that the release ... spearheads a public debate leading to changes in existing law to end these abuses," said the nonpartisan group's executive director, Melanie Sloan.

Meanwhile, a Republican campaign committee yesterday released a nearly 300-page report accusing Democrats of stalling promised ethical reforms in Congress. It spotlighted Democrats who face ethical investigations of accusations of misconduct.

"I think we need to remind people that the new Democrats are not much different than the old Democrats," said National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole, Oklahoma Republican.

Democrats singled out in the report include Reps. William J. Jefferson of Louisiana, who was indicted this month on charges of offering and accepting bribes, Alan B. Mollohan of West Virginia. who's accused of directing taxpayer funds to groups run by former staff members, business and real estate partners, and John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, who is accused of violating House rules by threatening to block future earmarks requested by Rep. Mike Rogers, Michigan Republican.

An aide to Mr. Rogers said the lawmaker has yet to be contacted by the House ethics committee.

Democrats said the report is hypocritical and contains no new information.

"The differences between the two parties cannot be more clear," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Doug Thornell. "Republicans promote their ethically challenged members to key committee positions, while Democrats have done more on ethics reform in six months than [the GOP] did in 12 years."

Several Republican lawmakers face ongoing ethics questions, including Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona, whose finances are being investigated by the FBI, and California Reps. Jerry Lewis, whose ties to a lobbyist have been questioned, and John T. Doolittle, whose ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff are being investigated.

The ongoing ethics debate comes as lawmakers consider a proposal sponsored by Rep. Michael E. Capuano, Massachusetts Democrat, that would allow outside groups to file ethics complaints against sitting members of Congress. The complaints would be nonbinding, but proponents say it would provide greater transparency and possibly motivation for a House ethics committee that both parties have described as stalled.

Members of both parties fear it could be used for partisan attacks and that continuing to only allow sitting lawmakers to file ethics complaints is a more reliable system.

"We're still deliberating," said Capuano spokeswoman Alison Mills.

The CREW report cites 17 members of Congress, 11 Democrats and six Republicans, who "used their campaign funds to make campaign contributions to relatives." In addition, two-dozen lawmakers, 10 Democrats and 14 Republicans, have family members who actively lobby Congress.

Rep. Maxine Waters, California Democrat, said any claims of impropriety are a "distortion" of her record.

"My daughter, Karen Waters, owns a public relations firm known as Progressive Connections, which has been in business for 12 years and is a legitimate firm with a diverse client base," Mrs. Waters said. "As a matter of fact, according to FEC rules, it would be illegal for my daughter to provide a gift of professional services to me, therefore she must be paid."

A 2004 Los Angeles Times report found that Mrs. Waters' family had collected more than $1 million over eight years "by doing business with companies, candidates and causes that the influential congresswoman has helped."