Former lawmakers sit on millions in unspent campaign funds

Dinner leftovers often taste better the next day, but leftovers from campaign funds can be even sweeter.

Until 1989, retiring lawmakers or candidates who lost their races could use campaign funds for vacations, cars, or retirement perks. That’s when the Ethics Reform Act limited where and how candidates can spend those funds. Former House and Senate members now sit on tens of millions in unspent campaign cash. Here’s what some of them are doing with the money, based on campaign finance reports through the first half of 2015.

Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich., who left Congress in 2011, gave $200,500 to Christian organizations and his church. Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., who left in 2013, gave $700,000 to his family-managed foundation. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., who left in 2015, donated up to $18,000 each to Planned Parenthood, a gun control group, a cancer center, and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential bid. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who left in 2009, gave more than $200,000 to Republican candidates and $117,000 to Catholic Charities and youth programs.

Some unspent federal campaign money goes for state and local campaigns. Current Sen. David Vitter, R-La., donated $890,000 from his Senate account to a political committee supporting his campaign for Louisiana governor. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Penn., who exited Congress in 2015, gave $3 million to a political committee backing her unsuccessful 2014 run for Pennsylvania governor. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who left in 2009, gave more than $1.1 million to a political committee that helped get him elected Chicago mayor in 2011.

Last year New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie used leftover campaign funds to pay for legal bills incurred during the George Washington Bridge closure scandal. Mary Landrieu, with nearly $150,000 remaining since her 2014 Senate loss, may give some of it to former Republican colleagues (much to the chagrin of her fellow Democrats) and “to causes that I’ve fought for, including adoption, foster care reform, and education reform.”

Former members of Congress who have campaign account balances of more than $1 million:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.