It’s a broken system, and it’s shocking how Washington politicians have been using campaign funds to benefit their own families with impunity.
Anyone who has read even one story about politicians knows that the entire system is a corrupt one. A system in which politicians who enter public service poor, come out incredibly wealthy. But not only do the politicians make money, but so do their family members.
Conservative brief reports.
Over the last decade, California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters has paid her daughter over $1.2 million, all legal. After many prominent Democrats have been called out for putting family members on their campaign payroll, Republicans are looking to ban the practice.
Republican Rep. Pat Fallon has introduced legislation called the Family Integrity to Reform Elections Act, which would prevent campaign funds from going to a candidate’s immediate family. If passed, the bill would also hold the candidate directly responsible for violating the provision.
Representative Fallon stated in an interview “The Family Integrity to Reform Elections (FIRE) Act is a critical step to reducing nepotistic practices in American campaigns. Allowing direct family members to be on the take of campaigns must come to an end. For example, Maxine Waters, the worst perpetrator, has given her daughter over $1.1 million in campaign funds. This is utterly egregious, and I will not stand by as the integrity of our elections is further diminished,”
This would be horrible for Maxine Waters.
Daily caller reports, according to Federal Election Commission filings, Waters’ campaign paid Karen Waters $8,000 in September, a surplus of over $1 million her daughter has earned from the campaign since 2003. As of late, legislators have come under increased scrutiny for paying family members with campaign funds.
The over $1 million given to Karen Waters, including the $8,000, has been for slate-mailer operations. Karen Waters has also been paid for things such as “administrative services,” “fundraising,” and “rally expenses,” according to filings. Waters came under fire a few months ago for paying daughter another $24,000 in campaign cash during the most recent quarter,
When asked about the ramifications of the new law being passed Representative Fallon responded with “ Maxine Waters paid $1.1 million to her daughter from campaign funds, Ilhan Omar, $2.9 million to her husband from campaign funds. James Clyburn, over $200,000 to multiple family members from his campaign.”
It’s no surprise that there have been multiple scandals of prominent Democrats reportedly using campaign funds to pay family members, yet it’s still a broken system that allows for this type of money laundering with little to no accountability. Maxine Waters has paid her daughter an astonishing $1.2 million over the last decade and Ilhan Omar has reportedly paid her husband $2.9 million from campaign funds. This shouldn’t be happening and it’s absolutely scary that it’s possible under our broken system. We need more transparency and accountability from our representatives in order to ensure this rampant scandal stops! It’s time for some real change so that our government officials aren’t allowed to launder money with no consequence.
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