Another shady GOP couple paying themselves from contributions

IMAGINE THAT every time members of Congress received a $1,000 campaign contribution, they could skim $150 off the top and put it straight into their personal bank accounts. Sound shady? That is, in effect, how Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) and his wife, Julie, operate. According to our review of campaign finance records, Mrs. Doolittle has received at least $215,000 from Mr. Doolittle's various campaign committees since 2001. This doesn't include $6,800 in payments to another of Mrs. Doolittle's companies, Events Plus, before she started doing his fundraising work. She's taken in nearly $100,000 during the 2006 campaign alone.

The 2006 campaign has just started. This is only one of the most blatent examples of candidates collecting salaries from donors. At least this money making scam doesn't involve setting up charities so the donors can get a tax write-off for their bribes.

Tags: GOP, corruption, donors, contributions, campaigns