Document: Scotland trip for 8, including Feeney, cost $160,000

[Robbien]

Source: Orlando Sentinel

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo reported the cost of a 2003 trip to Scotland with lobbyist Jack Abramoff at $5,643, but court documents released this week show that the expenses for the eight people on the trip totaled $160,000.

If that number were divided between the eight travelers, the cost would have amounted to about $20,000 per person -- not the figure Feeney reported to the House ethics committee and later agreed to pay to the U.S. Treasury after the trip was disclosed.

When asked where Feeney derived the figure, spokeswoman Pepper Pennington said Wednesday it came from the ethics committee. But in a January statement, the committee said the number was reported by Feeney. In the past, Feeney has said he picked up some of the costs himself -- such as greens fees at an exclusive country club.

<snip>

A plea agreement signed by Zachares indicates that he lied on disclosure forms by saying the National Center for Public Policy Research sponsored the "fact-finding" trip for $5,643 -- "a figure coordinated with Abramoff to be substantially identical as the figures of other attendees, including Representative #3," or Feeney.

"In fact, as Zachares knew, the costs were higher, there was no official purpose and Zachares attended the trip for free golf and to further his relationship and plan with Abramoff," according to court records.

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-bk-feeney042507,0,7197607.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

[Infomaniac]

1. I feel better now.

Feeney sold his office for 20K instead of a paltry 5 grand. Makes me feel much better that Feeney's ethical code prevented him from selling his office for less than 5 figures. Where is that sarcasm icon?

[Parisle]

2. This is easy to solve,...... at least for honest legislators, it is.....

--- NO trips,.. NO golf games,.. NO gifts,.. NO lunches,.. NO dinners,.. NO Super Bowl tickets,.. NO contributions,.. and NO guaranteed job "after" congressional service.

---Come to think of it,.. NO lobbyists. There is no reason justifying this practice that is no either dishonest or anti-democratic. Lobbying should be stopped once and for all.

[melody]

3. Ah, these public servants selflessly devoted to our concerns

Kinda gets me right *there*.

Oh, wait, that's gas. But then, so are they.

[nealmhughes]

4. What sort of trip was that? $20K per capita?

Did Jack give each a custom made Fabrege-esque gold and enamel driver and putter? Did the hotel have an electric butt wiper?

[OneBlueSky]

5. it was probably the custom kilts and the gourmet hagis . . . n/t

.

[cybildisobedience]

6. gee, that's a lot of $400 haircuts

I hope we hear as much about THIS....