There is an understandably growing outrage among the American people when they believe their elected officials are enriching their family and themselves while in office. They rightfully believe the purpose of running for office is to serve, not to fill your personal bank accounts. In fact, it was part of the undercurrent that lifted the red wave in 2016. “Drain the swamp” people shouted referring to D.C. and the sometimes unethical questionable behavior of career politicians. Turns out, one of those career politicians may be North Dakota’s own Congressman Kevin Cramer. The signs are there.
According to the Politico Morning Score, Kevin Cramer has “paid his family members more than $150,000 and received more than $200,000 in reimbursements from his campaign account.” The report went on, “FEC records show Cramer has paid his wife
, Kris,
nearly $140,000 since 2013. That includes $119,000 in salary, plus thousands more in mileage, per diems and other reimbursements. He’s paid Reel Love Videos, a video production company owned by one of his daughters, over $11,000. Other family members have received about $12,000, including a $327 payment for “event babysitting” to one of his daughters.”
As Cramer is under the federal guidelines since first announcing his Congressional candidacy in 2011-2012, this is alright legally. North Dakota state laws that recently changed as far as candidates using campaign contributions for personal gain do not apply to him. The question is ethical and whether or not those who think we should, “drain the swamp” are alright when one of their own has played in the mud.
GET THE FULL ARTICLE ON NDxPLAINS BY CLICKING HERE
(Tyler Axness is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His program, “Afternoons Live,” can be heard weekdays from 2 – 4 p.m. Axness is also the creator and writer of @
NDxPlains
, a blog dedicated to transparency and accountability in North Dakota politics. Follow Tyler on Twitter @TylerAxness.)
