CBC Foundation to Audit Scholarship Program

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CBC Foundation to Audit its Scholarship Program


Designed as a way for college students to learn about Congress, a scholarship sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is undergoing an internal audit after Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson gave scholarship money to her relatives and the children of her staff members.

Johnson, a veteran Democrat lawmaker from Texas, dipped into the funds and doled out 11 scholarships each year between 2005 and 2008. Each of those years, three or four winners were her grandsons and grandnephews or the children of her Dallas District Director Rod Givens.

Giving the scholarships to relatives violates the rules of the CBC Foundation, according to Foundation Chair, Rep. Donald Payne (pictured), a Democrat from New Jersey.

Payne said he wants each of the 42 black lawmakers who are members of the CBC to review how they distributed its scholarship funds "to ensure the highest degree of transparency, integrity and disclosure."

Payne added that "self-dealing or nepotism" won't be allowed in the handing out of the scholarships.

I would like to know whether Johnson knew she was breaking CBC rules when she handed out the money to her grandkids and grandnephews.

Even though no public money funds the program, Johnson should know that financial gifts to her relatives should be reserved for Christmas cards and birthdays -- not a program designed to help deserving constituents.

Let's see what the internal CBC Foundation audit turns up, but I, for one, am not hopeful.

Does anyone really expect that Johnson is the only CBC member to abuse her office in this way?



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