WASHINGTON -- A prime New York strip at Morton's Steakhouse in the nation's capital will set you back $57. A filet mignon, $39.

U.S. Sen.

spent $34,487 at the restaurant's Washington location over the last two years, thanks largely to the special interests that also helped fund his re-election campaign.

Menendez, D-N.J., can't send the dinner bill to the committee that funds his

Instead, he can charge such expenses to a separate political account that he also runs.

And that second account allows him to go back to the same special interests that already give to his re-election efforts and ask them for even more money.

Don't Edit

The Capitol at dusk. (Saul Loeb | AFP/Getty Images)

More than 90 percent of federal lawmakers -- including 13 of 14 from New Jersey -- have gotten around limits on campaign contributions by setting up separate political action committees known as leadership PACs.

Unlike their campaign accounts, federal lawmakers can spend this money as they wish. They can help other politicians to gain influence. They can go on trips. Or, as in the case of U.S. Sen.

, they can travel across America to boost their chances for a presidential run.

In most cases, the dollars pouring into these leadership PACs come from the same companies, unions or ideological groups whose concerns the lawmakers handle as leaders or members of legislative panels.

"Most constituents have no idea that they exist," said Meredith McGehee, executive director of Issue One, an advocacy group. "They are this repository for special-interest money. It's like having another pocket to collect money from people and evade the contribution limits.

Don't Edit

The

originally approved such committees in 1978 to allow members of Congress to raise extra money to help their colleagues at election time.

They were called leadership PACs because ambitious lawmakers used them to move up the leadership ladder. After sharing their largesse with their colleagues, they had the favor returned by when lawmakers met behind closed doors and chose party leaders and committee chairs.

Since then, however, these committees have morphed into a virtually unregulated source of funds for lawmakers to use as they please, and a required tool for those pondering a run for the White House.

The unchecked spending has led good-government groups to ask the FEC to treat leadership PACs like campaign committees and prevent lawmakers from spending the money on themselves or their families.

Don't Edit

Nick Foles of the Super Bowl LII winning Philadelphia Eagles celebrates in a Main Street parade at Walt Disney World in February. (Matt Stroshane | Disney Resorts via Getty Images)

On average, less than half of the leadership PAC money collected by members of Congress is redistributed in the form of campaign contributions to other candidates, according to a study by Issue One and the Campaign Legal Center.

That same study

using those accounts to live high on the hog, including lavish meals at expensive restaurants, trips to Walt Disney World and Las Vegas, membership dues, and tickets to concerts and sporting events.

"Over the decades, these things, depending on the individual controlling them, have drifted very far from their original purpose," said Paul Seamus Ryan, vice president for policy and litigation for Common Cause, which supports stronger campaign finance laws. "They're often used as slush funds."

An examination by NJ Advance Media of New Jersey lawmakers' leadership PAC filings found no one spending money on such trips or nights on the town.

But most members of the state's congressional delegation filled their PAC coffers with donations from the same special interests that fund their campaigns.

Don't Edit

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez speaks to reporters in November after leaving a closed-door meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (AP Photo | Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Of the 11 New Jersey leadership PACs reporting at least $15,000 in expenditures from Jan. 1, 2017, to Nov. 26. 2018, 10 spent more than half their money on political donations to other candidate or party committees.

Menendez was the exception. Of the $504,285 his New Millennium PAC spent during the 2018 campaign, only 37 percent, $185,489, went for political contributions.

He curtailed his political giving

on federal corruption charges in April 2015 until his criminal trial and ethics committee investigation ended earlier this year. He also used the PAC to pay $36,054 in legal expenses.

Menendez's chief of staff, Fred Turner, said meals at places like Morton's were fundraising events for the senator's New Millennium PAC. He ate at other fine restaurants as well, bringing his total dining bill to $53,247.

"Senator Menendez and/or I as his chief political advisor, have hosted numerous political and fundraising lunches and dinners for New Millennium over the years in support of Democratic candidates in New Jersey and across the country," Turner said.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

An "Under Contract" sign is posted in front of a home for sale in Charlotte, N.C. in this 2017 photo. (AP Photo | Chuck Burton)

Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate housing subcommittee, received the maximum $10,000 from the National Association of Realtors PAC. to the campaign committee of Menendez, the top Democrat on the housing subcommittee.

The Realtors PAC also can give $5,000 annually to his New Millennium committee. That's $30,000, three times more than the PAC can donate to his re-election effort.

"As we've always done in the past, NAR supported hundreds of candidates for federal office from both parties and in every corner of the country, investing in races using Realtor party funds and member contributions," said Shannon McGahn, senior vice president of government affairs.

Don't Edit

The Realtors spent $53.8 million to lobby during the first nine months of the year, second only to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group. Their PAC was the fourth largest in terms of contributions to candidates, according to the center.

"What a way to buy endearment from the lawmakers," said Craig Holman, who lobbies for stronger campaign finance laws for the advocacy group Public Citizen. "That's what it's all about. These leadership PACs are not providing any useful function when it comes to governance other than provide a means for wealthy donors to influence lawmakers."

"Candidates are supposed to have one campaign account," Holman said. "These are just multiple windows for people to throw cash at them."

New Jersey lawmakers did not answer questions about their sources of leadership PAC donations, though all emphasized that their fundraising complied with federal law.

Don't Edit

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker speaks at a get out the vote event hosted by the New Hampshire Young Democrats at the University of New Hampshire in Durham in October. (AP Photo | Cheryl Senter)

Such leadership PACs have become a necessity for potential presidential candidates. They can tap those funds for trips across the country, to hire staff who can later work for a presidential campaign, and to make contributions to candidates, including those in early-voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire and battleground states such as Florida and Ohio.

Between Jan. 1, 2017, and Nov. 26, 2018, two-thirds of the $1.2 million spent by Purpose PAC, the leadership PAC of Booker, D-N.J., a potential

, went for contributions, most of them to his fellow Senate Democrats up for re-election last month. He spent another $61,208 on travel.

Booker raised more money for his leadership PAC than any other member of the state's congressional delegation, and he did it for the most part without accepting donations from congressional committees. He

that he no longer would take corporate PAC donations.

"For years, Senator Booker has worked tirelessly to ensure that Democrats win up and down the ballot, including by supporting candidates for Congress through his leadership PAC," Booker spokesman Jeff Giertz said.

Don't Edit

Gov. Chris Christie (John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The last New Jerseyan to run for president, then-Gov.

set up his own leadership PAC, Leadership Matters for America. months before he threw his hat into the ring.

His PAC made $98,000 in donations in its first six months of existence, with $50,000 -- more than half -- going to candidates and party committees in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Don't Edit

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony in Aberdeen Township in August 2016. (Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

On the House side. the biggest sources of contributions to Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.'s Shore PAC have been drug companies and health professionals such as dentists, optometrists and psychiatrists, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group.

His biggest lifetime sources of donations to his re-election campaign also were health professionals and the drug industry.

Shore PAC's two biggest donors in the last two years were the National Association of Broadcasters and Blue Cross Blue Shield political committees.

All fall under the jurisdiction of the

, where Pallone. D-6th Dist.,

when his party becomes the majority in January.

Of every $10 he raised, $8 came from special interest PACs, and more than $7 of every $10 he spent went for campaign donations. Such contributions

win the ranking position over Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.

Pallone spokesman Anton Becker declined to comment.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., speaks during a June news conference about the closing of Toys R Us in Totowa. (AP Photo | Julio Cortez)

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over taxes, and the liquor industry was among the biggest donors to Silk PAC, the leadership PAC of Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist. The PAC takes it name from Paterson's "Silk City" nickname.

His biggest individual donor was the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America PAC,

Hospitals and health professionals also were among his top contributors; the committee also has jurisdiction over some health care issues.

Almost all of the money he raised, 96 percent, came from special interest PACs, and 81 percent of his expenditures went to other candidates.

Silk PAC was organized to elect Democrats to the United States Congress," said Pascrell's chief of staff, Ben Rich. "This cycle, Congressman Pascrell and the committee helped elect dozens of Democrats to the House and Senate to hold Donald Trump and Republicans to account. Based on November's election results, that's a goal a majority of New Jerseyans widely share."

Don't Edit

Rep. Josh Gottheimer speaks with The Star-Ledger editorial board in October. (Andrew Miller | For NJ.com)

It took just seven months after was sworn in as New Jersey's newest congressman for Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., to set up his own leadership PAC.

He took advantage of his seat on the House Financial Services Committee to raise money for his committee, Jersey Values PAC.

Gottheimer's biggest source of money was Wall Street, also the largest industry donor to his campaign committee, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

He used the PAC to contribute $130,500 to candidates and the House Democrats' political arm, accounting for 77 percent of its expenditures.

"Jersey Values PAC helped elect and re-elect people to Congress who are focused on solving problems like reinstating the SALT deduction, fixing our crumbling infrastructure, and lowering health care costs," Gottheimer said.

Don't Edit

Rep. Donald Norcross holds artwork from some of the migrant children being held in a Camden detention center he visited. (Bill Duhart | For South Jersey Times)

Rep. Donald Norcross, a former union business agent, relied on organized labor to fill the coffers of his Blue Power PAC, which he formed at the beginning of his second full term. His 10 biggest donors all were labor unions.

Norcross, D-1st Dist., is a member of the House panel that will revert to its old name of the Education and Labor Committee in January.

More than $8 of every $10 spent by his PAC for the 2018 elections went for political contributions.

"Throughout my career I have supported candidates who put working families first, whether by campaigning alongside them, organizing election day efforts, or providing financial support, and this year I was proud to have helped many of the Democratic candidates that took back the House," Norcross said.

Don't Edit

Rep. Chris Smith. (NJ Advance Media file photo)

Rep. Chris Smith, the dean of the state's congressional delegation, will be its last remaining Republican come Jan. 3. His PAC spelled out his name, Citizens Strengthening our Message In The House, and 96 percent of his $22,191 in expenditures went to other candidates and committees.

Both Reps. Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist., and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., used their initials to name their leadership PAC, none of which made substantial contributions.

Payne named his PAC Democrats Making Progress. (M is his middle initial.) Watson Coleman's PAC was named BWC - Because Women Care.

Rep. Albio Sires, D-8th Dist,, was the only member of the state's congressional delegation not to have a leadership PAC.

Don't Edit

The effort to prevent lawmakers from using leadership PAC funds to benefit themselves, similar to the rules governing campaign committees, has the support of dozens of former members of Congress.

"We want to establish a line between what is appropriate and what is not appropriate," said former Rep. Andrew Maguire, D-7th Dist., and one of 58 former officeholders, all members of Issue One's Reformers Caucus, who signed a letter to the FEC last month supporting restrictions on leadership PACs. Also signing the letter were former Gov. Christie Whitman and former Rep. Bill Hughes, D-2nd Dist.

"When substantial portions of leadership PAC spending go to expenditures that would be potentially prohibited if spent from an officeholder's authorized campaign account, our country's campaign finance system needs a course correction in order to prevent future abuse," they wrote.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Tom Malinowski celebrates during his election night watch party in Berkeley Heights. (AP Photo | Noah K. Murray)

Two of New Jersey's four freshmen, Reps.-elect Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist. and Tom Malinowski, D-7th Dist., made overhauling the campaign finance system a major plank of their platform and vowed not to accept corporate PACs for their campaign committees.

Kim was unavailable for comment. Malinowski said he had no plans to set up a leadership PAC.

"I expect to have a competitive race in 2020 and need to focus on, No. 1, doing my job well, and No. 2, earning reelection," Malinowski said.

Don't Edit

More on campaign finance

That Star Trek guy and other crazy, surprising things we found in our last look at N.J. Dems' Trump midterm romp

You're being bombarded with Election 2018 campaign ads. Here are their lies, and who is behind them.

These Jersey Democrats are raising cash like crazy as they try to ruin Trump's midterm test

Barbra Streisand and other things you didn't know about big Jersey races at Trump midterm

How hard is the anti-Trump wave crashing New Jersey? Here's a close look.

Don't Edit

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.