Enron gifts to Missouri lawmakers questioned

WASHINGTON -- Like Attorney General John Ashcroft, several Missouri lawmakers who have received campaign money from Enron Corp. find themselves in positions to investigate the politically connected company as well.

Enron and its executives in 2000 contributed at least $57,000 to Ashcroft, who then was running for re-election in one of the country's most-contested Senate races. Ashcroft and chief of staff David Ayres, his former campaign manager, recused themselves Thursday from the agency's investigation.

Besides Ashcroft, a half-dozen Missouri lawmakers have received more than $30,000 in Enron contributions since 1989, according to an examination of Federal Election Commission records as well as analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog group.

They include members of congressional committees that will investigate the bankrupt company: Missouri Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan and Reps. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Karen McCarthy, D-Mo.

Check never cashed

Mrs. Carnahan, who serves on two panels probing Enron's dealings, never banked her $1,000 check.

Her campaign returned the money June 27, well before the company revealed its losses, spokesman Tony Wyche said.

She returned Enron's check amid allegations of Enron profiteering during the California energy crisis, Wyche said, but he wouldn't discuss those problems because Enron is coming under investigation by the committees on which she serves, he said.

She serves on the Commerce Committee as well as the Governmental Affairs Committee, both of which are reviewing allegations that the company burned stockholders who were unaware of the company's failing condition, throwing thousands of people out of work and decimating retirement accounts.

Lawmakers constantly receive campaign contributions from companies and officials in industries regulated by Congress. A top contributor in the last election cycle, Enron has contributed more than $1 million to members of Congress since 1989 and has given more than $5.7 million in total campaign contributions during that time.

"The difference here is that here is a company in deep trouble that could quite literally be wiped off the map, and members of Congress, some of whom received substantial contributions from that company, are going to be asked essentially to decide that company's fate," said Steven Weiss, Center for Responsive Politics.

Investigating committee members will have an active role in deciding the outcome of this situation, Weiss said, "... and it will be up to members of the committees to convince the public that their decisions are not based in any way on Enron's influence or largesse."

Lawmakers and their aides were reluctant to say whether they viewed such contributions as conflicts of interest.

Mrs. Carnahan, who was traveling Friday and could not be reached, believes that "it's up for each member to decide for themselves" about potential conflicts of interest, her spokesman said.