Two California politicians who are married to each other say they broke no laws when each collected consulting fees from the other's campaign organization.

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Tony Strickland is running for state controller this year. His wife, Audra, holds her husband's former seat in the state Assembly.

Citing campaign finance reports, The Los Angeles Times reports that $138,000 in political donations to the Stricklands went to their firms. Another $20,000 went to the California Club for Growth, a non-profit group where Tony Strickland has worked since leaving the Legislature.

Some observers said the Stricklands -- both Republicans -- have taken the practice of paying a spouse for consulting work to the next level.

"I've never seen both spouses being paid to work on each other's campaign," Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles, told the Times.

Both Stricklands say the Ventura County prosecutor investigated their campaign finances in 2004 and concluded there was no wrongdoing.