Proposed law would prevent legislators from funneling campaign cash to spouses

By: Kevin Passon

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), joined by Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), reintroduced the Oversight for Members And Relatives Act, or OMAR Act for short.

This legislation would put an end to the practice of federal candidates tapping their campaign accounts to enrich their spouses. The OMAR Act would also require the disclosure of any other campaign compensation of immediate family members.


The bill is based on a bipartisan proposal introduced in the 110th Congress by Rep. Adam Schiff, which passed the House of Representatives without opposition and was endorsed at that time by members of the House Democrat leadership team.

“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,” said Tiffany. “Public officials should serve their constituents; they shouldn’t be serving up a plate of campaign cash to their spouse. The OMAR Act will help restore public confidence in Congress and prevent politicians from pocketing their campaign funds.” 

Gallagher agreed.


“Members of Congress should not be able to enrich themselves by paying their spouses with campaign money. It’s crazy this is even legal in the first place,” he said. “This bill puts an end to this despicable practice and is a common-sense way to restore trust in government and ensure people don’t profit off running for Congress.”


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.


In 2007, Schiff called for House approval of a ban on campaign payments to spouses “an important step forward in restoring the public's confidence that elected officials are working in the public's interest and not their own.” 

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, too, praised the House action, saying it would “increase transparency in election campaigns and (prevent) the misuse of funds.”

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