WASHINGTON (AP) - Records show a D.C. councilmember has paid $135,000 for professional sports tickets over the past decade from a fund that councilmembers typically use to help needy constituents.

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The Washington Post reports that 31 percent of the money spent from Councilmember Jack Evans' constituent service fund since 2002 has gone to sports tickets.

Evans, a Democrat representing the wealthy Ward 2, defended the spending.

He says he has bought season tickets to athletic events for years to help local sports franchises and that he gives away a majority of the tickets to Ward 2 residents and local schools and charities.

There are few restrictions on how constituent service dollars can be spent. But Councilmember Tommy Wells says Evans' spending is "inappropriate" and that new restrictions may be needed.