Lawmakers' families take exotic trips -- for free (DetNews)

[Bozita]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061013/POLITICS/610130397

Lawmakers' families take exotic trips -- for free
Special interests pay for 75 jaunts for 13 Mich. members of Congress, kin.

Deb Price / The Detroit News

WASHINGTON -- Barcelona. Shanghai. Paris. Vail. The Bahamas. London. Palm Beach.

Over the past decade, special interest groups, corporations and foundations have paid for trips taken by 13 Michigan members of Congress and their relatives to these and other exotic spots. The total for the 75 trips that included relatives: nearly $375,000.

And while congressional ethics rules allow members of Congress traveling on official business to take one relative, and have a group pick up all the travel expenses, some watchdog groups want it stopped.

Craig Holman of the nonpartisan Congress Watch calls them "paid family vacations."

These aren't weekends in Indianapolis, or dinner at Applebee's. We're talking about $17,423 just for transportation costs for a seminar in China, $5,400 for two private cabins and meals on a Caribbean cruise ship, and $265 for dinner at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

more...

[CrispyQ]

1. I'd be happy with a weekend in San Fran.

;)

[acmavm]

2. Sheesh, and people look down on the honest whores who

are up front about what they're selling and what it will cost.

[crikkett]

3. geez I remember blowing $265 on dinner once

(resisting... urge... to crack... naughty jokes...)

Not so difficult if you're at the right place with the right wine. :)