Members of Congress are sent to Washington to serve the interests of their constituents – not to serve up a plate of campaign cash to their spouse.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen far too many egregious examples of politicians exploiting loopholes for personal gain. Whether it’s the revolving door that allows former lawmakers to cash in as lobbyists and federal contractors, or sleazy campaign tactics that conveniently enrich their family members, the American people have had enough.
As you may have heard, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has faced criticism in recent weeks for her skyrocketing net worth since being elected. Going from being nearly broke to being worth up to $30 million in just a year. This isn’t due to her good fortune.
For too long, lawmakers in both parties have engaged in the ethically dubious practice of pocketing campaign funds by “hiring” their spouses and disguising the payments as campaign expenses.
According to a report from Fox News, she “paid nearly $2.8 million to her husband’s political consulting firm” during the 2019-2020 election cycle – nearly 70% of her third-quarter disbursements. To put that number in perspective, that single figure is larger than what all Members of Congress combined paid their immediate relatives during the entire 2012 election cycle.
Simply put, it appears she’s been using her campaign account as her own personal piggy bank.
That’s exactly why I joined Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) today to introduce the OMAR Act and make clear to every congressional candidate that these shady practices will no longer be tolerated. This commonsense legislation would end the practice of federal candidates using campaign funds to benefit their spouses financially.
The people of Northeast Wisconsin sent me to Washington to hold career politicians accountable – running for political office should never be part of a family enrichment scheme. It’s long past time to close the loopholes that let Washington Insiders cash in on public trust.
Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Wied Wire.
Click here to read more about the OMAR Act.
In the Wieds
MEGA Step Forward for Election Integrity
As someone who is a strong advocate for local control, one of the first questions I ask myself when weighing any bill is whether the issue truly benefits from being handled at the federal level. Most of the time, states know best. But when inconsistent rules in one state directly impact every other state, it’s clear that Congress should step in. Federal elections fall squarely into that category. The outcomes shape the direction of the entire country, so the basic standards for how those elections are run shouldn’t swing wildly from state to state. That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor Rep. Bryan Steil’s (R-WI) Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act. This bill sets clear, common sense baselines to ensure federal elections are carried out with integrity, transparency, and consistency. These aren’t radical ideas – they’re based on the same principles already in place in 36 states. The MEGA Act verifies citizenship at registration, requires photo ID to vote, strengthens voter roll maintenance, ensures mail-in ballots arrive by Election Day, and bans practices like ballot harvesting that undermine trust. Federal elections impact all of us – when one state’s lax standards can dilute another state’s lawful votes, Congress has a responsibility to act. Clean voter rolls, clear rules, and secure processes shouldn’t be controversial. They’re the foundation of a healthy democracy. The MEGA Act makes it easy to vote, hard to cheat, and restores confidence in a system that only works when Americans trust it.
Accountability Shouldn’t Be Controversial
It feels like every time the American people demand transparency to ensure that programs are on the up and up, Democrats immediately shut it down, insisting there’s “nothing to see here,” while refusing to open up their books. In addition to stonewalling the Department of Justice, Governor Evers and state Democrats are still refusing to open up our books on SNAP and Medicaid – even after the Minneapolis fraud scandal showed exactly what happens when oversight is ignored. And who could forget when Evers flat-out vetoed new funding for Wisconsin’s Legislative Audit Bureau. Their argument? They’re confident there’s no fraud, so they don’t need to check. But if they’re so confident, why not be transparent? Instead of demanding blind trust, it’s time to verify those claims so we can fix any issues before they spiral – and before taxpayers are left footing the bill. That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor the SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act. This legislation requires states to provide beneficiary‑level SNAP data to USDA when requested, or risk losing federal funding. If you want to receive federal dollars, you should be able – and willing – to prove they’re being used properly. In states that complied with USDA’s data request, auditors found nearly 186,000 dead participants receiving benefits and more than 355,000 people enrolled in multiple states. You deserve accountability for your tax dollars, and I will keep fighting to ensure it.
Keeping Care Top of Mind
It was great to visit Curative Connections this week, a provider of adult day services in Northeast Wisconsin that offers 11 person‑centered programs for more than 1,600 community members every week. I had the opportunity to see firsthand how their team supports individuals living with dementia, traumatic brain injury, and other cognitive conditions – and the impact that care has on families across our region. As I work through the appropriations process in Congress, visits like this reinforce why I’ve requested increased federal support for Alzheimer’s and dementia research, as well as funding for traumatic brain injury programs. These investments directly benefit organizations like Curative Connections and the people they serve, helping ensure that families in Northeast Wisconsin have access to high‑quality care, resources, and support. I want to recognize Jeanne Stangel and her incredible team for their dedication and compassion. Their work strengthens our community every single day, and I’m committed to making sure federal resources reflect the needs of the people they serve.
District Update
Innovation in Manufacturing
[see featured photo above] This week, I visited and met with team members at Convergen Energy located in Green Bay. During the visit, I had the opportunity to learn how the company produces a renewable engineered fuel product used for power and steam generation. Convergen Energy is another great example of the innovative, high-quality manufacturers that we have right here in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. I want to thank Ted, Steve, Greg, Brian and the incredible team at Convergen for having me and for your continued hard work!
Supporting the Agriculture Community
It was a pleasure to connect with dozens of farmers and leaders in the agriculture community throughout Northeast Wisconsin at an event hosted by First State Bank in Freedom. I provided an update on my work in Congress this past year, the upcoming Farm Bill, and shared how I will continue to be a strong partner for our farmers here in WI-08 as a member of the Agriculture Committee.
Photo of the Week
We have received so many wonderful pictures since we launched the Photo of the Week section of the Wied Wire, and I would love to continue seeing more. This week’s photo is of the snowfall on a bridge. If you would like to submit a picture to be featured in an upcoming Photo of the Week, please email it to twstaff@mail.house.gov with your name and location. We look forward to highlighting more of your photos that celebrate the places and moments that make Wisconsin special.
