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Posted on 07/01/2009 10:28:14 PM PDT by Steelfish
JULY 2, 2009
Congress's Travel Tab Swells
Spending on Taxpayer-Funded Trips Rises Tenfold; From Italy to the Galápagos
By BRODY MULLINS and T.W. FARNAM
WASHINGTON -- Spending by lawmakers on taxpayer-financed trips abroad has risen sharply in recent years, a Wall Street Journal analysis of travel records shows, involving everything from war-zone visits to trips to exotic spots such as the Galápagos Islands.
The spending on overseas travel is up almost tenfold since 1995, and has nearly tripled since 2001, according to the Journal analysis of 60,000 travel records. Hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas in 2008 at a cost of about $13 million.
That's a 50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago.
The cost of so-called congressional delegations, known among lawmakers as "codels," has risen nearly 70% since 2005, when an influence-peddling scandal led to a ban on travel funded by lobbyists, according to the data.
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (left) and Sen. Richard Shelby in June on a river cruise in Paris, where U.S. politicians met with defense-industry executives.
Lawmakers say that the trips are a good use of government funds because they allow members of Congress and their staff members to learn more about the world, inspect U.S. assets abroad and forge better working relationships with each other. The travel, for example, includes official visits to American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Journal analysis, based on information published in the Congressional Record, also shows that taxpayer-funded travel is a big and growing perk for lawmakers and their families.
Some members of Congress have complained in recent months about chief executives of bailed-out banks, insurance companies and car makers who sponsored corporate trips to resorts or used corporate jets for their own travel.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
You’d never know we are in “the worst economic crisis since...doo dah doo dah.”
I wouldn’t mind paying their travel tabs if they were all taking trips to hell. Just as long as they stayed there.
Politicians steal yours.
On the first day, lawmakers toured a breeding center for giant tortoise and land iguanas before dining with scientists, according to an itinerary for the trip. The next morning, lawmakers headed to the Galápagos National Park while their family members had the option of hiking, swimming or shopping. That afternoon, the group boarded a boat to visit a sea-lion colony and search for white-tip sharks.
Mr. Baird didn't respond to a request for comment.
An exotic vacation under the guise of a fake global warming while Americans suffer.
Do as we say, not as we do.
2010 and 2012 Ping.
More and more, with every incident like this,
it re-affirms my observation that they are going for a feudal system, with them as the neo-nobility, and the rest of us living at their mercy.
It was mentioned by Hannity and Levin last night that the Barry’s plan follows, to the letter, Saul Alinsky’s: Win the trust of the naively idealistic middle class and then destroy it.
Accordingly, with the destruction of the middle class, the only classes remaining are the poor and the rich — the haves and have nots —ultimately resulting in a feudal-like system.
I assert that that is WHY they are attempting to destroy the middle class. It really irks them that those who aren’t “elite” have nice lifestyles.
We need to get them all voted out but MAYBE a handful and cut their pay and truly get rid of self interests and lobbiests. Reid,Pelosi and the liberal PROGRESSIVES all need exited stage left. It is our only hope.
How dare the idiot peasants question the expenses of our dear leaders in Congress. They’re working for us, don’t you know??
it re-affirms my observation that they are going for a feudal system, with them as the neo-nobility, and the rest of us living at their mercy.
Yeah SERVING THEMSELVES living like millionaires. As far as Iam concerned they all need to go. Let’s cut all of their salaries and term limit them. We need a grass roots movement of REAL people in there with what 0bama falsely promised- no lobbiests or self interests to fatten their bank account.
The most corrupt and incompetent Admin and Congress/Senate ever busy in these tough economic times showing their lack of caring for the average Americans who are losing jobs, houses, retirements, etc.
“Congressperson, the people in in dire economic straits!”
Congressperson: “Let them eat cake”
Bump
Then the US will be indistinguishable from Mexico. I don’t think I will enjoy being a peasant.
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