Malia Rulon tries to make something out of this USA Today story on Congresscritters paying their relatives for campaign services with campaign funds. Specifically, she mentions that Mike Turner is on the list...There is a law against Congresscritters hiring relatives to their office staffs, but there is no law against relatives being hired for work on campaigns. And, to be perfectly honest, I'm not real sure that there should be such a law.
But lets take a look at just how serious this problem is anyway... Here is the chrat from USA Today that displays the top ten firms of relatives paid by campaigns from 2001-2006:
Member, Company paid / Relationship / TotalWe're supposed to be all fired up that Mike Turner's wife's company made less than $10,000 a year... Nevermind all those Democrats at the top of the list making the big bucks...
Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. Collins and Day / Husband's company (John Marshall Collins) / $285,481
Bob Filner, D-Calif. Campaign Resources / Wife's company (Jane Filner) / $249,004
Howard Berman, D-Calif. Berman & D'Agostino / Brother's company (Michael Berman) / $195,000
Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo. Law Offices of Michelle Clay / Sister's company (Michelle Clay) / $139,314
Gary Miller, R-Calif. G. Miller Development / Self / $124,725
Maxine Waters, D-Calif. Progressive Connections / Daughter's employer (Karen Waters) /$111,124
Ric Keller, R-Fla. Hammon & Associates Wife's employer (Danielle Michel) $74,909
Ralph Hall, R-Texas Hall Law Offices / Son's company (Blakeley Hall) / $68,000
Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. John Marshall Collins P.C. / Husband's company (John Marshall Collins) / $62,705
Michael Turner, R-Ohio Turner Marketing / Wife's company (Lori Turner)/ $51,099
Color me unimpressed, Malia...
I will say that Gary Miller's entry is certainly a question mark and ought to be looked at...
