U.S. Senator Scott Brown, a Massachusetts Republican, reportedly pays his daughter Ayla to sing at his campaign events, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Mr. Brown’s daughters is a former American Idol contestant, and also sings the national anthem at Philadelphia 76ers games. The Senator’s payments to his daughter are allowed under FEC regulations, however, the payments will likely raise eyebrows to supporters about his use of campaign donations.
According to Mr. Brown’s campaign finance reports, he has paid his daughter a total of $9,500 since winning the 2010 special election to replace U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and fulfill the remainder of his term.
“Everything was done properly and in full compliance with [Federal Election Commission] regulations,” Mr. Brown’s campaign manager Jim Barnett said in a statement.
Mr. Barnett is claiming that the payment to his daughter is fair, because it would have been unfair in his view to only provide payment to her fellow band members. They also did not want to request the band or Mr. Brown’s daughter to perform for free.
Mr. Brown’s payment to his daughter to sing provides a unique situation, as there are not many politicians who have relatives that are singers and would be willing to perform at their campaign events.
“It is far more impractical to sort out any individual band member’s relatively small cut of the compensation and reimbursement than to simply pay the band the fair market value for their services. It would have been entirely inappropriate to suggest to other band members that they donate their professional services to the father of their lead singer,’’ said Mr. Barnett.
The Massachusetts Republican senator appeared on the “Jim and Margery” Massachusetts based radio show on Friday, and was dismissive of the payments. The Boston Globe printed a front page news story about the payments to his daughter, which Mr. Brown called “shocking.” He also questioned why there wasn’t as much coverage of the Senate vote on the STOCK act, a bill he introduced in November proposing congressional insider trading laws.
“This is her livelihood,” said Mr. Brown. “We were advised to pay her fair market value so there would be nothing raised. To have her band members do something for nothing just because it’s Ayla isn’t appropriate.”
Ms. Brown has not commented on the matter.
