Congresswoman Gives Scholarships To Relatives

I've long been a fan of term limitations. There's nothing like fresh blood in public office! Term limitations also reduce the likelihood of impropriety. Take the case of Texas Congresswoman Eddie Bermice Johnson. EBJ has been in the U.S. Congress for 18 years. Like every member of congress, she is up for reelection in November.

After be accused, she admitted to awarding thousands of dollars in college scholarships to four relatives and a top aide's two children since 2005, using foundation funds set aside for black lawmakers' causes.

The recipients were ineligible under anti-nepotism rules of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which provided the money. And all of the awards violated a foundation requirement that scholarship winners live or study in a caucus member's district.

Johnson, a Democrat, denied any favoritism when asked about the scholarships last week. Two days later, she acknowledged in a statement released by her office that she had violated the rules but said she had done so "unknowingly" and would work with the foundation to "rectify the financial situation."

Johnson is expected to be reelected, easily. Someone once told me that everybody in Texas is crazy. This, of course, is not true. The majority of voters in Johnson's Dallas district are crazy...for at least the past 18 years.