Eddie Bernice Johnson (D TX-30) Diverts Scholarship Dollars to Family Members

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. So we have a legislator named Eddie Bernice Johnson (D TX-30). Point: even if  children & grandchildren of aides dont count under anti-nepotism rules (an argument which the Congressional Black Caucus itself rejects) the point of the whole thing is to foster local education.  Shes a 9-term Congresswoman who somehow missed the fact she wasnt supposed to give Congressional Black Caucus scholarships to out-of-district family members.    Johnson a former chairwoman of the caucus who has served on the board that oversees the foundation said she wasnt fully aware of the program rules.  A worthy project to be sure: good policy good politics good publicity.  There is - sensibly - a non-nepotism rule; and there is - also sensibly - a rule that this money is to be given to students in your district.  But there is apparently no oversight at all over who gets the money which is why Rep. Johnson was able to use this money gave 15 scholarships to six ineligible kids - four grandchildren and two kids of an aide - and none of them live in the district.  Seriously:

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." Initially she said I recognized the names when I saw them. And I knew that they had a need just like any other kid that would apply for one." Had there been more very worthy applicants in my district" she added then I probably wouldnt have given it" to the relatives.

TX-30 is a majority-minority district incorporating large parts of the African-American and Latino sections of Dallas TX. That Rep. Johnsons defense rests on her inability to find six students from that area who were more qualified for scholarship money than her own grandchildren speaks ill of either her ability to serve her district or else of her skill in coming up with a solid believable lie.  Either way there are still some Texas kids out there who could have used this money and were denied it. Please remember this when Rep. Johnson is defended - and she will be. 

• Theyll talk about her relative lack of personal wealth;
• Theyll talk about how she at least didnt actually steal the money;
• Theyll talk about the relatively small amounts involved;
• Theyll talk about the need of those kids for those scholarships; and
• Theyll undoubtedly call people racists for even broaching the subject of yet another member of the CBC whos involved in shenanigans. 

What they wont do is admit that Rep. Johnson has no right to be defended.  She was given money dedicated to bettering the lives of her constituents.  She instead used it to better the lives of her family and subordinates. Was that why she helped create the district in the first place? PS:  Rev. Stephen Broden is the Republican candidate challenging Cong. Johnson.  He was at Glenn Becks Restoring Honor Rally in fact - and if that name isnt an omen then I dont know what is.