Take a free vacation, lose a committee seat
by Gary Boatwright, Tue May 31, 2005 at 11:23:06 AM EDT
Despite a rule requiring public disclosure within 30 days after a trip's conclusion, the AP found at least 198 recently filed travel reports that were as much as eight years late.
And Democrats were equally guilty of not reporting trips paid for by lobbyists:
Stacey Bernards, a spokeswoman for Hoyer, said the office searched the files after the travel issue was raised initially by "Republicans doing opposition research to deflect from their own ethical issues."
Hoyer's undisclosed trips were nearly doubled by Rep. Ellen Tauscher (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., with 21. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (news, bio, voting record), D-Ill., reported 20 past trips and Rep. Elijah Cummings (news, bio, voting record), D-Md. reported 13.
The Democratic party needs to get out in front of this issue and start handing out severe penalties for lawmakers that take vacations on the taxpayers dime or on a lobbyist's account. Among the Democratic staffers who violated the House Rule was a member of Nancy Pelosi's staff, who has been very critical of Tom DeLay.
More in Extended Entry
Republican and Democratic House members were nearly equal rules violators in failing to disclose their personal trips within 30 days after the trip's completion. There were 23 GOP members, 19 Democrats and one independent, all of them months or years late in their reporting to the House public records office.
Staff members for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., disclosed 11 prior trips, while staff members for DeLay, R-Texas, had four. Rep. John Linder (news, bio, voting record) of Georgia, a former chairman of the House Republican campaign organization, belatedly filed nine trips, as did Rep. Maxine Waters (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif
Joel Hefley is shocked! Shocked that travel junkets are a problem in both parties. Who knew?
"I didn't realize the extent of the problem," Hefley said in an interview. "There is no particular sanction (for tardiness) if you come back and file. They get lax. They don't think about it.
"People will be more aware now. The ethics committee will be more aware that it's a problem."
Will the ethics committee change the rule that doesn't provide any penalty or punishment for violation of the House reporting rule? If they get caught, all they are required to do by the current House rule is turn in a report, even if it's eight or ten years late.
The travel in question is not for official government trips known as CODELS, shorthand for Congressional Delegations.The special interest trips are usually financed by corporations, trade groups, think tanks, universities and others. They often pay for first-class commercial seats or provide corporate jets for lawmakers.
Many trips combine speeches, seminars and fact-finding tours with golf, sightseeing, shopping and accommodations at first-class hotels -- often in foreign countries.
"This sudden rush to file reports on previously undisclosed trips is certainly filling many pages of congressional passports," said Kent Cooper, head of the PoliticalMoneyLine Internet site that tracks political donations and travel.
Political Money Line has a data base and all of the details.
The Democratic party needs to get out in front of this story and insist on sanctions for violators.
Among the most expensive trips:
_Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and his wife, Amy, traveled to Australia last November, listing a combined airfare of $24,804 paid by the American Australian Association. The nonprofit group says it is devoted to strengthening relations between the United States and two allies, Australia and New Zealand. Matheson said meals and lodging were picked up by the Australian government, but no amounts were specified._Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., and his wife, Claudia, traveled to Israel and Spain last November and December, listing the cost at $21,226. The travel, for participation in a Jerusalem conference, was financed by the Michael Cherney Foundation. The organization has various charity projects in Israel, including help for victims of suicide bombings.
_Rep. John Linder, R-Ga., and his wife, Lynne, traveled to Israel and Jordan in January 2004 at a cost of $19,650. Linder said the trip, sponsored by The Jerusalem Fund, was designed to promote international understanding.
Even if it means Maxine Waters loses her committee seat:
"Sometimes they run late because the people who are responsible for inviting you have to get you all the receipts and they are so slow," Waters said.
Bullshit! Congressional representatives of the people who are responsible for tracking hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayers money need to get their own house in order, before they mention another word about Tom DeLay.
Corruption in either party is unacceptable. If Maxine Waters or any other Democrat is too incompetent to keep their travel reports current, they are not competent to sit on committees or vote on legislation.
Tags: CA-10, Ellen Tauscher (all tags)
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