Congress should monitor globetrotting
Knoxville News Sentinel Editorial
June 20, 2006

Tennessee’s representatives in Congress did some fact finding in Paris and Australia — the trips to Jamaica and Hawaii were for conferences —during a five-and-a-half-year period. To taxpayers back home, many of whom can’t afford such trips, that sounds pretty glamorous.

The Center for Public Integrity, American Public Media and Northwestern University’s Medill News Service conducted a study of travel from January 2000 to June 2005.

The American Australian Association reimbursed U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, $25,442 for an eight-day trip to Australia that included his wife.

The European Institute paid $11,718 for an aide to U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Chattanooga, to take a four-day trip to Paris. Even Wamp was unhappy when he saw the bill for that trip. "Frankly, it made me mad," he said.

It’s not a surprise that some groups and individuals are finding fault with the trips. Common Cause, a citizen watchdog group, said the House should set detailed requirements — such as committee preapproval, a detailed purpose and itinerary, and a list of trip participants — and bar lobbyists from any connection to the trips.

The bribery conviction of lobbyist Jack Abramoff has raised the issue of lobbying and trip reforms in Congress, and we think that’s a good thing. While we understand that some travel and fact finding are necessary for members of Congress who run our country, we believe they should be sensitive to the fact that such travel can also give the appearance of excess. Even though taxpayers are not paying the bills, all our members of Congress are in their positions because taxpayers put them there.

U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., R-Knoxville, and his wife went to an airports conference in Hawaii valued at $7,590. The American Association of Airport Executives paid the bill for Duncan, who serves on the transportation committee that oversees aviation. Duncan, who accepted $120,333 for 30 trips for himself or his staff, said he learns about various issues and problems on the trips.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., former president of the University of Tennessee, and his wife accepted a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica, from the Aspen Institute valued at $5,400 for a conference on education reform. An aide to the senator said Alexander’s privately funded trips are sponsored by nonprofit groups and do not involve lobbying.

As we said, we understand that members of Congress must gather facts and learn about issues. But is it necessary to take their wives with them to exotic locations?

Anthony Nownes, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee, said Congress should not allow organizations to pay for a spouse or child on such trips. He particularly named popular destinations such as Hawaii, Jamaica and Las Vegas.

"Members of both parties defend it because it’s fun," Nownes said. "It’s a wonderful perk. It should be eliminated, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon."

That’s the discouraging part. It’s fun, so it’s unlikely our representatives and senators are going to limit themselves except in individual cases.

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Pall Mall, is an example. Tom Hayden, a spokesman for Davis, said the congressman wants to ban all trips focused on recreation. "Any trip he or his staff take are to be beyond reproach and relate directly to issues affecting the Fourth District," Hayden said.

We think that’s a good policy, and his sincerity is reflected in the fact that Davis accepted $19,058 in privately funded trips during the roughly half of the study period he was in Congress. By comparison, Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., accepted $257,766, and Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, accepted $139,238.

We hope those who represent us in Congress understand why the appearance of globetrotting sets a poor example and will treat the need for more stringent ethics regulations seriously.