Travel Spending Gone Awry - Rep James Oberstar

Congress's Travel Tab Swells

The congressional trips are possible thanks in part to an unlimited fund created by a three-decade old law. Nearly two dozen government officials work full-time organizing the trips. Much of the costs are not made public, including the cost of flying on government jets. The Air Force maintains a fleet of 16 passenger planes for use by lawmakers.

Following are some noteworthy examples of Congressional travel gone awry.

2008 Congressional Travel Noteworthy Trips  -
Data from OpenSecrets.org      
(Credit to the Center for Responsive Politics) 

Gary AckermanNew York- Lanai, Hawaii-New YorkAspen InstituteConference$10,555.00 3/23/2008    Dem      NY

Danny K. DavisChicago-Dresden, Germany-Liechtenstein-ChicagoInternational Mgmt/Development InstituteParticipated in the 10th Annual U.S. German Congressional Roundtables$12,200.00 2/16/2008    Dem         IL

Danny K. DavisChicago-Beijing, China-DCOmar Medical SuppliesAttended the groundbreaking ceremony$10,315.00 4/4/2008    Dem      IL

James L. OberstarDC-Lanai, HI-DCAspen InstituteConference$12,376.00 3/24/2008    Dem   MN

Tom PriceAtlanta-Dresden, Germany-Vaduz, Liechtenstein-AtlantaInternational Mgmt/Development InstituteConference$17,381.00 2/16/2008    Rep   GA

George V. VoinovichDC-Lanai, Hawaii-DCAspen InstituteConference$11,325.00 3/24/2008    Rep   OH

Ed WhitfieldDC-Lanai, Hawaii-DCAspen InstituteConference$12,008.00 3/24/2008    Rep    Ky

NOTES:  Data was last available, courtesy of the House Office of the Clerk and Senate Office of Public Records, on Friday, May 16, 2008. 

Individual travel expenses for the Aspen Institute conference ranged from $1,845 to $12,376.