Posted on 06/05/2006 10:02:02 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Members of the U.S. Congress and their aides took free trips worth nearly $50 million paid for by corporations, trade associations and other private groups between January 2000 and June 2005, according to a study released on Monday.
Some of the 23,000 trips featured $500-a-night hotel rooms, $25,000 corporate jet rides and visits to popular spots such as Paris, Hawaii and Colorado ski resorts, said the study, by the Center for Public Integrity, American Public Media and Northwestern University's Medill News Service.
"In many instances, trip sponsors appeared to be buying access to elected officials or their advisors," the study said.
While some excursions were legitimate fact-finding missions, others appeared to have been little more than "pricey vacations" wrapped around speeches or seminars in which the lawmaker was joined by family members, the study said.
The data emerged from a nine-month-long review of congressional travel disclosure forms and coincided with ongoing federal investigations of political corruption and efforts to clean up how Congress does business.
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud charges in January and admitted he showered golf trips, sports tickets and other gifts on lawmakers in return for actions that would help his clients.
In response, the Senate and House of Representatives have voted to toughen ethics guidelines and require greater disclosure. But critics have charged more needs to be done.
Under a bill passed by the House, members would need prior approval from the House ethics committee before flying on corporate jets or accepting privately funded trips.
Lawmakers and their aides can take trips financed by outside groups to help them learn about issues or to deliver speeches, such as commencement addresses. Lobbyists may not pay for congressional trips but can help to arrange them.
Congressional trip sponsors, the study said, included Microsoft, Time Warner and The Walt Disney Co., along with the Association of American Railroads.
Tom White, an association spokesman, was quoted in the study as saying that such getaways "provide an opportunity for us to discuss our issues with members in an atmosphere where you are not time-constrained.
"If you try to talk to a member for any great length of time ... in Washington, they are simply too busy," White said.
Former House Majority Leader Rep. Tom DeLay and his staffers accepted about a half million dollars in trips during the period under review -- more than any other congressional office, the study said.
DeLay resigned as the number two House Republican in the House and will leave Congress this week,, after he was indicted of violating campaign finance laws in his home state of Texas.
Congress is a cesspool.
Nice of Reuters to throw in Tom DeLay's name at the last minute to brainwash its readers that evil Republicans are the ones doing this.
You can argue all you want but you can't allow individuals to make a career out of the Congress or Senate.
It would appear that most of these critters are lawyers who could not make in the Private Arena.
It is time the voters demonstrated to the politicians who really has the power.
Also the use of Jack Abramof's name, which has already been successfully identified with Republicans by the Old Media. No mention of that Jefferson guy, though. It must not be important.
You can argue all you want but you can't allow individuals to make a career out of the Congress or Senate.
What about the thousands of unelected staffers that make a career out of guiding new Congressmen through the complicated waters of Congress? Leave thousands of unelected people in charge of the government instead of a few hundred that we can remove if they do not do what their constituents want?
The reason that so many Congressmen are greedy, corrupt, wishy-washy weasels who will do or say whatever it takes to get ahead is... they represent the people who elected them. The people vote for those who exhibit the same qualities that they have.
"Nice of Reuters to throw in Tom DeLay's name at the last minute "
And *so-o-o-o* convenient of them to omit Reid's free boxing tickets.
If I ruled this country with my one vote - trips to ANYWHERE except their home district would be against the law. There would be unannounced FBI raids in their offices to search for "gifts". Lobbyists would be outlawed. Leaks would be punishable with prison terms. Congress critters would be limited to once a year news conferences - no rushing to cameras. There would be term limits.....
Except for my John Cornyn, I despise them (Congress) all with great disgust.
If I ruled this country with my one vote - trips to ANYWHERE except their home district would be against the law.
I want them to be able to take legitimate fact-finding trips - to Iraq, for example. Not to Scottish golf courses, though.
How many staffers?How many trips? What was the cost for each one? Who went on trips with Abramoff ?
SHOW US THE NUMBERS!
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