[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE TRANSPARENCY ACT

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2007

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague 
Representative Adam Schiff in supporting H.R. 2630, the Campaign 
Expenditure Transparency Act.
  By ending the practice of making campaign payments to a candidate or 
Federal officeholder's spouse and by requiring the disclosure of any 
payments made to other family members, we can eliminate the perception 
that campaign payments are a means for converting campaign funds to the 
family's personal use. While I support going one step further to 
prohibit the same payments to immediate family members, and have 
introduced legislation to do so, I am pleased to lend my support to 
H.R. 2630, which takes us in the right direction.
  Specifically, H.R. 2630 would prohibit the campaign from compensating 
the spouse of the candidate. The prohibition would create an exception 
for reimbursements on travel, and an exception for nominal 
reimbursements up to $500 in a calendar year. The bill also requires 
disclosure to the Federal Election Commission, FEC, of all 
reimbursements.
  H.R. 2630 would also require disclosure to the FEC of payments to 
immediate family members of the candidate or Federal officeholder. The 
prohibition and disclosure requirements would also apply to businesses 
where the spouse or family member is an officer or director of the 
business. Penalty for violation of these provisions would be imposed on 
the candidate or officeholder.
  Numerous Members of Congress employ their spouses and family members 
for campaign activity without abusing the system. However, the practice 
of paying spouses and family members creates the potential for campaign 
finance and ethics abuses. If a payment to a spouse becomes part of the 
Member's family income, the Member, for all practical purposes, is 
receiving a direct personal financial benefit of campaign funds.
  I believe it is our responsibility to close the gaps in our laws and 
in our rules that have been exposed and to restore the confidence of 
the American people in their elected officials.
  H.R. 2630 moves us in the direction of increased transparency and I 
urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting 
the legislation.

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