ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997 TAG: 9703250074
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The law restricts former senators and representatives to what they can do with the cash but has no time limits.
Sam Nunn is using some of the cash left over from his campaigns for an exhibit memorializing his career.
Defense Secretary William Cohen is endowing a university chair.
But Bob Packwood, who left Congress under threat of expulsion, is holding on to his leftover money in case he wants to run for something else.
The 16 senators and 70 House members who left Congress last year had more than $8.1 million in their campaign accounts, according to year-end federal reports.
Bob Dole, who left to run for president, was at the top of the list with $1.3 million from his Senate campaigns but hasn't decided what to do with it.
The days are gone when veteran lawmakers could celebrate their retirements - or console themselves after defeats - by converting their unspent campaign money to personal use. That practice was ended with the retirements of 1992.
But lawmakers leaving Congress still have choices.
They can donate to charities or educational activities, contribute to political parties, or save for their own future campaigns.
Packwood, R-Ore., who was charged by the Senate's ethics committee with sexual and official misconduct, said he will hang on to his leftover $342,200 for now.
``I have not dismissed the idea that I may some day run for something,'' he said. ``It could be anything from the local school board to the local park board in Oregon.''
As an alternative, Packwood said, ``I would love to see a lot of vest-pocket parks with fountains in Portland. It would be the equivalent of a charity.''
Cohen, the current defense secretary and former Republican senator from Maine, is helping to finance a chair in his name at the University of Maine.
The AP review showed:
The 62 members of Congress who did not run for re-election had more than $7.3 million in leftover cash, an average of more than $118,700.
Because of their costly campaigns, the 24 who lost re-election bids had far less available: about $793,000 or some $33,000 per member.
Republicans had more left than Democrats. The 24 GOP lawmakers who left Congress without re-election races averaged $131,300. The 38 Democrats who retired averaged $110,700.
There is no deadline for disposing of the leftover money.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB