Looks like Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) has been giving his staffers a bit too much leeway in writing earmarks. USA Today reports on Specter’s family affair:

Sen. Arlen Specter obtained a $200,000 grant last year for a Philadelphia foundation represented by the son of one of Specter’s top aides,the latest example of how the Pennsylvania Republican has helped clients of lobbyists related to members of his staff.

Bill Reynolds, Specter’s chief of staff, said an investigation found two lobbyists who sought financial favors and who were related to staff members. Specter has changed his office rules to ban lobbying by staffers’ relatives.

It’s good to see that he’s implemented new rules to stop this legal, but highly questionable, behavior from continuing.