Clear and Present Conflict of Interest. How Bad Does it Have to Be?

There are moments when you just have to ask, What are they thinking?

This is one of them.

Rep. John Campbell, a Republican from California, used to work as a car dealer. He has taken $170,550 in campaign contributions from auto dealers, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. No surprise so far, huh?

According to his own personal financial disclosure filings, in 2008, Rep. Campbell was compensated as a "managing member" of a real estate holding company called ACD Holdings, LLC. What properties did ACD own? There are seven. And six of them are rented by car dealerships (the other is a car collision repair shop).

So why is this important? Well, who do you think Rep. Campbell wants to exempt from the provisions of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency bill being debated right now in the House Financial Services Committee?

You guessed it. Car dealerships.

Again according to his own disclosures, Rep. Campbell received between $600,006 and $6 million in 2008 alone from rental income on the six properties occupied by car dealerships.

He ought to pull the amendment and be hauled in front of the Ethics Committee. This is outrageous.

A vote is coming this evening on this amendment - it ought to be pulled, but we're hearing the vote will be close. Call your member of Congress and tell them not to let them get away with this one.