Spring Break for Congress - and Taxpayers Foot the Bill

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) led his wife, nine democrats and two Republicans to Honduras, Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they stayed at the Caneel Bay resort, paying $1,100 per night. After they left the resort they flew to Key West.

The military provides jet service to these hard-to-get-to places -- at a rate of $10,000 per flying hour.

The purpose?

Thompson’s office said he toured the Caribbean because he now chairs the Homeland Security Committee and wanted to see vacation hot spots to “examine border security and port security.” Three other members of the delegation also brought along their spouses.

Okay...do you think he could even say that with a straight face? Come on.

And, btw, they could have stayed in a room at Caneel Bay for about $700 a night less...but they chose the most expensive room rate.

At least the two Republicans on his junket fact finding mission are on the committee (I don't know about the Dems on the trip, the article did not list his other travelling companions.

But the same can't be said for Rep. Eliot Engel of New York who led his wife and four Democratic members who aren't on his committee to Trinidad and Grenada. The purpose of that trip was to explore:

"best practices for emergency disaster relief" and energy policy.

Oh please. That briefing could have been given in any hearing room at the Capitol.

I agree that members sometimes need first hand knowledge over their subject matter. But, come on. College students seeking to justify a trip to Ft. Lauderdale during spring break could come up with more credible reasons why mom or dad should foot the bill.

Here's what I propose:

If a Member must go overseas, fly commercial, coach. Put a cap on lodging based on average tourist hotels in the moderate range (see Frommer's travel guides). Better yet -- can't they stay at the US consulate? Buying pullout beds for all our embassy's would be cheaper than just one trip to the Caneel Bay resort.