Baucus Gave Girlfriend $14k 'Raise'

Sen. Max Baucus of Montana gave a pay raise of  approx. $14,000 to a female worker with whom he was in an extramarital affair. Politico gives the story:

Late last Friday, Baucus acknowledged his relationship with Melodee Hanes, whom he nominated for the job of U.S. attorney in Montana, after it was first reported on the website MainJustice.com. But he said that Hanes withdrew from consideration for the job when the relationship became more serious. The following day, Baucus dismissed calls for an ethics investigation, saying, “I went out of my way to be up and up.”

The New Ledger gives a backstory to the whole affair:

Hanes was Baucus’ State Director, meaning she was supposed to manage his efforts back home in Montana, however she accompanied him on numerous trips to the Middle East and Asia, even though foreign policy had no bearing on her job back home and she had no expertise in the matters being discussed on the trip. This “junkets” are often taken by members, sometimes with spouses and relevant staffers along for the trip. Senator Baucus needs to justify why he was taking his State Director along with him. Was this a taxpayer funded date where the Senator used his influence to woo his staffer?

This is nothing new for polticians, however. Many up on Capitol Hill have given jobs to friends or fat paychecks to family, or vice versa:

But he’s not alone. Other senators have nominated family and friends for government jobs, too.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D., N.Y.) recommended a lawyer from his Judiciary Committee to be U.S. attorney in Manhattan.

Brendan Johnson, 34, the son of Sen. Tim Johnson (D., S.D.) has been nominated to be the top federal prosecutor in South Dakota.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D., Vt.) recommended a former staff attorney from the Judiciary Committee to be the U.S. attorney in Vermont.

An attorney who worked for Vice President Biden in the Senate was nominated to be the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.

It’s not that these people aren’t qualified to hold a federal position. But others who might be even more qualified aren’t given consideration because they don’t have an inside connection.

At least Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.) did the right thing in his state. Reid recommended Daniel G. Bogden, one of the U.S. attorneys who was fired under Bush.