Some recession-burdened Americans have given up vacations but it’s an ongoing habit for the US Congress who are visiting not only warring countries such as Iran and Afghanistan but also peaceful Ireland and China.
Lawmakers defend their travel, saying missions like these are important to share valuable intelligence and build relations.
But Rep. Tim Johnson (R-Ill.) says some members of Congress take a spendthrift attitude about travel — because they don’t have to pay for it.
"I think the let-them-eat-cake mentality that many of us, many members have adopted in both the House and Senate is just not acceptable to the American people," Johnson said.
But that isn’t reflected in the numbers.
Congressional spending on overseas travel tripled in the last eight years, and has jumped 50 percent since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago.
According to congressional travel records, House and Senate members spent 6,910 days overseas in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2009, spending a total of $9.4 million.
Representatives traveled to some 127 countries this year, including hotspots in Europe, the Greek Islands, Hong Kong and Dubai. The Senate did its own share, traveling to 100 different countries — including places like Scotland, Morocco, Denmark, Sweden and Italy.
By David Wilkening
