Congressional Junkets Defended as Work-Based

[ShockediSay]

Source: WallStJrnl


HOT SPRINGS, Va. --
Republican members of the House of Representatives took a break earlier this month from bashing the Democrats' $800 billion stimulus bill and journeyed here to the Homestead Resort, an 18th-century mountain spa, where the diversions include golf, skiing, skeet shooting and falconry.

Republican lawmakers paid for their travel and lodging, mostly with campaign funds. Staffers' bills and the rest of the tab was picked up by the Congressional Institute, which is funded by 54 "patrons," including General Electric Co. and the National Association of Home Builders. About 45 lobbyists attended a dinner on opening night.

House Republican Conference spokesman Matt Lloyd, said Republicans accept partial corporate funding of the retreat because "We don't believe in using taxpayer money."

A few days later, as the stimulus bill inched forward, Democrats held a two-day issues conference at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa in Williamsburg, Va., a property owned by brewer Anheuser Bush-Inbev NV and whose spa is known for its hops and chamomile massage. Taxpayers helped foot the bill, which was paid partly with money appropriated for congressional office expenses.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123483886399996643.html

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Either way I see these as boondoggle baloney, & especially amenable to lobby lawyers influence on the Republican side

[BlooInBloo]

1. There's always gonna be perks like this... Though we need to minimize them as best we can.

[No Elephants]

4. Can't minimize them unless we know about them and ACT.

[Loudmxr]

2. These are "in kind" gifts- and should be declared as income and TAXED!!!

Gee I hope I have that term right. But they sure are kind and they sure are gifts. And "IN" the pocket they go so TAX them and DECLARE them. :smoke:

[acmavm]

3. These people can't work in their offices? They need to run off to

a resort on the corporate dime (if you're repubic) or the taxpayer (if you're a dem)?

[ShockediSay]

6. If it's not a meeting in the conference room, but held at some rersort

IT'S A BOONDOGGLE !!!

[Lagomorph]

10. I've been to enough conventions to know...

that a convention atmosphere is a great way to do business. Getting away from your office and meeting up with the voices on the phone leads to new relationships, new ideas and new opportunities. It doesn't have to be at a luxury resort, though and the taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the bill for somebody's career enhancement.

Corporations and wealth are where the tax money comes from. The government can't really create wealth or generate economic growth, except thru infrastructure. It's up to the private sector and labor to get the job done.

[2Design]

5. These are the cuts in government spending I want to see - NOT schools and highways and infrastructur

When they advertising government cuts way back in reagan era - these are the cuts I envisioned - instead they cut libraries and parks, and education and put more money in their own pleasures and guns, bullets, and bombs

[damntexdem]

7. Well, seriously -- how is Congress going to know about the conditions ...

of tropical beaches around the world, if Congress people don't go visit them?

[Seeking Serenity]

8. It's hard, IMO, to hear Washington chastise the big CEOs

for their lavish perks and all-expenses-paid trips for their top people when our congresscritters (both Rs and Ds) are doing much the same thing.

Looks hypocritical.

[Lost in CT]

9. You will never learn about global warming unless you visit the places most effected.

Like Tahiti and the Caribbean.