Congressional Summer Vacation a.k.a. Fact-Finding Mission

Despite the (feigned) outrage over the jet purchase, Congress seems set for some exotic summer vacations - no, fact-finding missions.

Opposition Emerges to House's Jet Spree (8/10/09 Wall Street Journal)

"WASHINGTON -- Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials.

"The resistance to buying eight Gulfstream and Boeing planes comes as members of both chambers of Congress embark on the busiest month of the year for official overseas travel. The plan to upgrade the fleet of government jets, which was included in a broader defense-funding bill, has also sparked criticism from the Pentagon, which has said it doesn't need half of the new jets.

""The whole thing kind of makes me sick to my stomach," said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) in an interview Sunday. "It is evidence that some of the cynicism about Washington is well placed -- that people get out of touch and they spend money like it's Monopoly money.""

"Some", Ms. McCaskill?

"The tension over the jets is erupting just as lawmakers embark on the high season for government travel. Traditionally, August is the busiest travel period of the year, since Congress usually recesses for a month... "

So where are they going this year? According to the article,

• A delegation led by Mr. Boehner, House Republican leader, is going to Germany, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, and rest in Vancouver, Canada, before flying back to Washington D.C.
• A delegation led by Senator McCain is going to Libya, Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iceland
• Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.), Sen. Judd Gregg (R., N.H.) and others are going to London

The last one looks boring, but the other two look good to me. Some exotic locations like Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Libya, Yemen, Iceland. Summer in Bavarian Alps is nice, too (if that's where they are going). Fact-finding missions to the Galapagos islands can wait until the warm season there (December - May).

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Fact-Finding Mission by Congress Looks Real Good

Lawmakers' Global-Warming Trip Hit Tourist Hot Spots (8/8/09 Wall Street Journal)

"WASHINGTON -- When 10 members of Congress wanted to study climate change, they did more than just dip their toes into the subject: They went diving and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. They also rode a cable car through the Australian rain forest, visited a penguin rookery and flew to the South Pole.

"The 11-day trip -- with six spouses traveling along as well -- took place over New Year's 2008. Details are only now coming to light as part of a Wall Street Journal analysis piecing together the specifics of the excursion.

"The South Pole trip, led by Rep. Brian Baird (D., Wash.), ranks among the priciest. The lawmakers reported a cost to taxpayers of $103,000.

"That figure, however, doesn't include the actual flying, because the trip used the Air Force planes, not commercial carriers. Flight costs would lift the total tab to more than $500,000, based on Defense Department figures for aircraft per-hour operating costs."

Here's what the itinerary for the trip included, according to Wall Street Journal:

• Touchdown in Christchurch, New Zealand, a few hours before the sunset on New Year's Eve. Enjoy the firework.
• Prepare for the trip to South Pole. Free clothing provided for extreme cold weather.
• Tour the Antarctica. Meet penguins. Sorry no spouses.
• Australia. Diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
• Layover in Hawaii, relax at Royal Hawaiian Hotel before flying back home.

I hate to think what kind of rigorous fact-finding missions there are for the health care "reform". (Touring France in early fall sounds very rigorous to me.)

But hey, this is nothing. Only half a million for 10 members of Congress for 11 days. Less than $5000 a day per member. The prez himself may have blown a quarter million on a night out (a few hours) with his wife, while General Motors was preparing for bankruptcy.

The U.S. voters have only themselves to blame for electing them.

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