Car leases, holiday parties, new office furniture and meals at high-end restaurants are just some of the ways top Massachusetts lawmakers, unopposed at the ballot box, are choosing to spend their campaign donations. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi spent more than $30,000 on meals for staffers, fellow lawmakers and associates during the first eight months of the year, according to an Associated Press review of campaign finance reports. Senate President Therese Murray, also running unopposed, spent $3,517 on office furniture, $5,279 to lease a car and $10,208 on a holiday party.

The spending is renewing calls for tighter campaign finance laws by critics who say current laws allow incumbents to use campaign donations to boost their lifestyles.

The meals listed on DiMasi's campaign finance report included outings at dozens of restaurants around Boston, from pubs to upscale eateries like the Ritz Carlton and Mooo Restaurant, where the American Beluga caviar appetizer costs a cool $120.

DiMasi's penchant for picking up the tab was made possible by the $234,329 he's raised in campaign donations since January. Murray raised $300,633 in campaign donations so far this year and spent $251,835.

The state's campaign finance laws give candidates wide discretion in how they can spend campaign donations. The money must be used to enhance the political future of the candidate in the eyes of the public and colleagues. It cannot be primarily for anyone's personal use.

The campaigns defend the fundraising - and spending.

Murray campaign spokesman Kevin O'Reilly said Murray had an opponent in 2004 who spent nearly $300,000 and wanted to be prepared if another, deep-pocketed candidate sprung up.

"That ended up being quite an expensive race and one that we didn't anticipate," O'Reilly said.

DiMasi's campaign also defended the spending, saying he used the campaign money for district meetings, constituent services, political meetings, fundraisers and dinners with donors, supporters and members of the House.

"All of these things are entirely fitting with campaign finance regulations," a campaign spokesman said in an e-mailed response. DiMasi, the spokesman added, "is thrilled to be unopposed for re-election this year, but he knows that an opponent can emerge at any time, as one did in 2006."

The level of fundraising and type of spending by powerful lawmakers like Murray and DiMasi in the absence of challengers shows the need for reform of the state's campaign finance laws, advocates said.

Those laws, some of the toughest in the nation, set a maximum campaign contribution of $500 from members of the public and $200 for lobbyists.

And while state campaign finance laws prohibit lobbyists from taking a lawmaker out to dinner - there's nothing stopping them from donating $200, allowing the lawmaker treat themselves to dinner.

"That certainly makes a legislator's salary go a little further," said Pam Wilmot of the government watchdog group Common Cause. "The more you can spend those campaign contributions on, the more you can enhance your lifestyle."

Written By STEVE LeBLANC

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