Many lawmakers hire family members

WASHINGTON — Dozens of lawmakers have hired their spouses and children to work for their campaigns and political groups, paying them with contributions they've collected from special interests and other donors.

A few family members earn enough to make a living. Many come cheap. They manage the books, give speeches, raise money and run the daily operations, according to an Associated Press review of records.

Such hirings are legal, but the practice became an issue this month when it was reported that the wife and daughter of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay had been paid more than $500,000 since 2001. They worked for DeLay's political action and campaign committees.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, is one of the lawmakers who has hired family members. Three of his college-age children worked on his campaign last year. Emily was paid $5,425, Jane $9,508 and Laura $17,766.

Congressional bosses express no regrets about their family arrangements.

"My wife raised $250,000 more than I ever raised with all the expensive consultants," Rep. Ron Lewis, R-Ky., told the AP.

Lewis hired his wife, Kayi, to be his campaign director and campaign manager about a year ago, and he pays her $50,000 a year. He estimated the hiring saved him more than $40,000 a year in salary and consulting fees.

Mary Hayworth, wife of Republican Rep. J.D. Hay- worth of Arizona, earns $20,000 a year as the director and only employee of his political action committee.

"The minimal salary she's paid is far less than if you hired somebody in from outside," spokesman Larry VanHoose said.

AP's review identified roughly four dozen lawmakers who hired family members for their campaign or political groups, including Connecticut Sen. and former presidential candidate Joe Lieberman.

"I think anytime someone does it they have to be ready and willing to explain what the relative does and justify the salary," said Larry Noble, head of the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based campaign finance watchdog group.

"I think when you start putting a whole family on the payroll and start putting kids on the payroll, the scrutiny may increase," Noble added. "It's a form of self-dealing and anytime you're involved with self-dealing, questions are going to be raised."

A smaller number of lawmakers have relatives on their congressional staffs.

Arlene Willis, the wife of Rep. Jerry Lewis, a 14-term lawmaker from California, serves as his chief of staff at a salary of nearly $111,000. It's allowed because Willis was Lewis' top aide when he came to Washington in 1979, before they were married; under House rules, lawmakers cannot hire their spouses.