House Republicans have introduced legislation seeking to stop federal candidates from enriching their spouses or immediate family members by adding them to their campaign payroll, pointedly dubbing it the “OMAR Act,” or the Oversight for Members and Relatives Act.
Republican Reps. Tom Tiffany and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin announced the legislation on Friday. In a press release, the pair noted of a “House member from Minnesota” who allegedly took advantage of the loophole they wish to close by paying a reported $2.8 million to her husband’s consulting firm.
The Republicans are seemingly referring to Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, though they acknowledged the issue transcends Omar and political parties.
The OMAR Act, Reps. Tiffany and Gallagher said, “would put an end to the practice of candidates for office tapping their campaign accounts to enrich their spouses.”
“For too long, lawmakers of both political parties have engaged in the ethically dubious practice of pocketing campaign funds by ‘hiring’ their spouses and laundering the money as campaign related expenses,” Tiffany said.
“It is outrageous and inappropriate for Members of Congress to convert campaign donations to personal funds in this way,” he continued. “It feeds public perceptions of corruption, undermines public trust in Congress, and must come to an end.”
“Regardless of political party, we should all be able to agree that running for political office shouldn’t be part of a family enrichment scheme,” Tiffany added. “Passing the OMAR Act will help restore public confidence in Congress and stop politicians from effectively pocketing their campaign funds.”
Gallagher charged that such loopholes “allow members of Congress to funnel campaign funds to their spouses are despicable and erode trust in our government. There’s simply no logical reason for allowing this practice to continue, and I’m proud to join Rep. Tiffany in this common-sense effort to ensure members can’t profit off running for Congress.”
As noted by The Washington Examiner, Omar’s decision to pay the firm of political consultant Tim Mynet… (Read more)
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