Barton Family Foundation

The Barton Family Foundation is a charity established in 2005 by United States Congressman Joe Barton to provide support to "select charitable organizations" in Texas's 6th congressional district, which Barton represents.[1] His daughter-in-law, Amy Barton, is the Foundation's Executive Director.[2] The foundation spent $130,000 on overhead between 2005 and 2008 and made $90,000 in donations.[3]

The foundation drew page one attention from The New York Times when it was revealed that major energy corporations, such as the Chicago-based nuclear energy producer, Exelon Corporation, make large gifts to the Foundation. In June 2008, at a time when Barton had introduced legislation to assist corporations with the recycling of spent nuclear fuel, Barton solicited a $25,000 donation to the Foundation from Exelon. Exelon has also donated $80,000 to Barton's campaign funds.[2]

According to a 2008 story in The New York Times, the foundation pledged $400,000 to the local Boys and Girls Club to help build a $1.2 million clubhouse.[2] The Washington Times reported in 2009 that the foundation gave only $90,000 for the clubhouse.[3] The foundation also pledged $500,000 for a local Meals on Wheels group. Although the foundation made no direct gifts to that charity, Energy Future Holdings and BNSF Railway gave $35,000 in the foundation's name. Both companies have also supported Barton election campaigns.[3]

The donations by major energy corporations led to an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics in 2009.[4] Barton was cleared of unethical conduct charges.[4]