WASHINGTON – Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Rockwall, has paid his daughter-in-law $181,000 in campaign funds the last six years.

Only one House colleague has spent more on relatives – though nearly a quarter have kin on the campaign payroll, according to an analysis.

The nonprofit government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington found that House members have paid relatives $3.4 million in salaries out of campaign funds over the last six years and sent $2.2 million to companies that employ family members.

The group calls the practice shady, though federal law lets candidates hire relatives if they're qualified, provide actual services and are paid reasonable sums. House ethics rules prohibit the use of one's position to benefit friends and family, but that doesn't apply to campaign work.

"Members of Congress, over time, have begun to use their positions as profit centers for their families," said Melanie Sloan, the group's executive director.

Mr. Hall, like his colleagues, defended his outlays.

Daughter-in-law Jody Hall has handled his campaign finances for years. Mr. Hall called the arrangement legal and wise, noting that plenty of politicians have been victimized. He cited the $30,000 embezzled by an aide to Dick Armey, the former House majority leader from suburban Dallas.

"Jody devotes full time to the job," Mr. Hall said, "and it gives me peace of mind to know that she has my best interests at heart and that I can reach her any time of the day or night."

Ms. Sloan hopes that Congress bans campaign nepotism.

Her group studied six years of campaign records from 337 of 435 current House members – those who hold a party leadership post, plus the chairman or senior Republican of any committee or subcommittee. About 93 of 100 senators fit the criteria.

It found that 96 lawmakers from 33 states have paid relatives out of campaign funds – 41 Democrats and 55 Republicans.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, spent $7,000 in campaign funds two years ago to buy his mother's car, which his campaign now uses. The former House energy chairman paid his wife, Terri Barton, $57,759 and his daughter Kristin Barton $12,622 in the 2006 election cycle. Four years earlier, his campaign sent son Brad Barton $5,000 when he ran for Congress.

Spokeswoman Karen Modlin said Mr. Barton wants people he trusts on his campaign, "and that includes his family."

Mrs. Barton's duties as "outreach director" include publishing a quarterly newsletter, designing a Web site and Christmas card, fundraising, event planning, managing correspondence and direct mail, promoting her husband's visibility and recruiting volunteers, Ms. Modlin said, adding that she has years of experience in marketing, fundraising and communication.

"Each and every person on the campaign staff is paid commensurate with their duties," she said.

In El Paso, House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes, a Democrat, paid $8,000 to a daughter-in-law for fundraising, $5,000 to his brother to serve as campaign manager, $10,000 to a daughter for campaign work and $1,706 to a son for computer services and expenses. Mr. Reyes' campaign also sent a sister-in-law $3,500 when she ran for the Texas House and $700 to help his dad run for a school board seat.

In Laredo, Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar's federal filings show his own campaign paid him $70,600 for office space, equipment and the use of vehicles, plus $6,000 in rent to his law firm.

Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, bought $9,000 worth of computers from a company where his wife worked.

In Tyler, GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert has paid his wife, Kathy Gohmert, nearly $96,000 since early 2004, when she quit a full-time teaching job. He's defended the arrangement, noting that she has an MBA and has devoted long hours to his campaigns since then.

GOP presidential hopeful Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson has paid his daughter Lori Pyeatt nearly $161,000 in six years, and $11,000 to the in-laws of another daughter. Spokesman Jesse Benton said it's hardly excessive to pay $27,000 a year to a full-time campaign treasurer.

"This is certainly not extraordinary for a hard working professional woman whose job entails many long hours and the liability that goes along with the treasurer's job," he said.

Todd J. Gillman covers Congress and the Texas delegation.