Posted on 05/23/2005 6:16:01 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
ITHACA--New York State Congressman Maurice Hinchey, recently under fire for “racking up a stunning $161,393 [in free travel] footed by special-interest groups,” is excusing his actions by blaming “Republican spin.” But a non-partisan group tells a different story.
Writing in the Ithaca Journal, Hinchey, claims that his trips, to such places as Rome, Shanghai and Morocco, are ethical because he does not consider the groups that footed the bills to be lobbyists:
"[A]ll of my privately funded trips abroad have been sponsored by well-known and highly regarded non-partisan, non-profit organizations that are dedicated to informing public policy.”
Therefore, Hinchey blames “Republican spin” for his reputation as “New York's king of comped travel.”
However, according to the non-partisan website, PoliticalMoneyLine, this does not, as Hinchey implies, mean that the groups are unaffiliated with lobbyists:
"There is no legal prohibition to prevent a lobbyist from serving on the board of these organizations, and in some cases lobbyists may encourage a client to contribute to the non-profit. In some cases, serving on a non-profit's board permits the lobbyist to participate in the sponsored event or travel for Members of Congress."
In defending his actions, Hinchey also fails to mention that, while all of his foreign travel is funded by “non-partisan, non-profit organizations,” his domestic travel is not.
For example, PoliticalMoneyLine reports, in December, 2003, Hinchey traveled to Naples, Florida, as guest of the American Shipbuilding Association, racking up nearly $1800, in meals and lodging in that resort community.
Hinchey closes his defense of this travel by stating he plans to travel to Ithaca soon, to hold a “community forum” and meet with Ithaca Journal editors. No word yet on which “non-partisan” group will be footing the bill.
Listening to this clown, Ithaca is apparently also the City Of Paresis.
The PoS from the CoE.
His re-election is virtually assured. He's a crooked Democrat.
I.E.D. alert! I get it now Maurice...your a VICTIM.
We have many of his ilk in MA, John Olver comes to mind. Pure socialist scum!
-"Hinchey closes his defense of this travel by stating he plans to travel to Ithaca soon"-
If he manages to spend $1800 in Ithaca, you can nail him for sure!
London Bridge is for sale in Ithaca. Any buyers?
That goes for everyone, not just this Rat.
bump
As noted here, however, Hinchey failed to disclose that the 'non-partisan' group was affiliated with lobbyists.
As I've written before, even though Hinchey's 22nd CD includes The City of Evil, the district as a whole isn't *that* heavily Democrat. Bush got 45% in the district in 2004, making it no more Democrat than the 27th CD held by Republican Jack Quinn until a few months ago and which was won by a Democrat with only like 51% last November; the 22nd is only 3% less Republican than Republican James Walsh's Syracuse-based 25th CD. If the GOP ran a strong candidate, preferably form Ulster County, I think we could defeat Hinchey once and for all.
bump
". . .Hinchey, claims that his trips, to such places as Rome, Shanghai and Morocco, are ethical because he does not consider the groups that footed the bills to be lobbyists: . . ."
Old trick: define the problem out of existence. In the federal government, "Go jump in the lake" becomes "That's not a lake, that's a body of water."
Well, sure, I was trying to frame my comments generally.
In a word NO!
The guy looks like he could be one of Tony Sapranos' slimey under bosses.
I see your point in the general sense and acknowledge your point is valid. However, I was simply clarifying that Hinchey still violates even that interpretation.
He really just has no morals... the ends justify the means, I suppose.
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