ASHINGTON - Despite scant opposition, the Massachusetts congressional delegation's campaigns spent millions of dollars in the last 20 months, partly to help other Democrats run their campaigns, according to campaign finance reports.
As both parties intensify the battle over control of the House and Senate, four members - Representatives Martin T. Meehan of Lowell, J. Joseph Moakley of South Boston, Barney Frank of Newton, and Richard E. Neal of Springfield - have spent more campaign funds in the 20 months ended Aug. 30 than during the same period before the 1998 election.
The state's incumbents in the House and Senate face little real opposition in the election, yet the lawmakers who spent more this season are eager to help regain the House, spokespersons said. Several Massachusetts House members are set to gain key chairmanships of powerful committees if Democrats regain control.
Meehan is next in line to become chairman of the Armed Services Committee in a Democratic House, and Moakley is the top Democrat to be tapped as chairman of the powerful Rules Committee. Representatives Edward J. Markey of Malden and John W. Olver of Amherst also could gain chairmanships.
''Marty [Meehan] is playing an active role in trying to win back the House and get a Democratic majority,'' said spokesman Bill McCann. ''I think his expenditures reflect that.''
Meehan spent $368,943 over the 1999-2000 period, up from the $251,859 he spent over the same period before the 1998 election. This year, he gave $40,000 to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee - more than double the amount the committee asks from each candidate - and he has given about $10,000 to the state Democratic Party, McCann said.
The level of funds donated by incumbents to congressional campaign committees and directly to other candidates has risen nationally since 1990, said Larry Makinson, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. According to the organization, Democratic candidates gave $1.5 million to candidate committees and $2.3 million to leadership PACs in the 2000 election through the end of June. Republicans gave $1.8 million to candidate committees, and gave $5.2 million to leadership PACs.
''There's certainly a major redistribution of funds going on,'' Makinson said. ''Most of those people have no significant financial opposition.'' Senator John F. Kerry has donated a total of $100,000 of his own campaign donations through July and August to Democratic incumbents, said spokesman David Wade. He has given to the reelection campaigns of Senators Dianne Feinstein of California and Charles Robb of Virginia, and has given to Democratic candidates in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy's campaign spent $2.8 million in the 20 months ending Aug. 30. His Republican challenger, Jack E. Robinson, raised $154,095 over the same period.
Moakley spent $700,388 during the same time, an increase from the 1998 election, when he spent $661,894 over the same period, according to FEC reports.
Frank campaign spokeswoman Dorothy Reichard said the congressman has spent close to $190,000 on ''non-operating costs'' - primarily contributions to other candidates and political parties. His overall spending in this election-year cycle was $369,691, up from $229,573 before the 1998 election, FEC reports show.
