Lawmakers tote up expenses in traveling
17.11.2009, 20:45
Grand Junction’s federal representatives received more than $58,000 in travel expenses last year, according to official House and Senate travel disclosure documents.
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The documents, provided by the Legislative Resource Center and Senate Office of Public Records, show Grand Junction’s federal representatives — Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar and Rep. John Salazar — and their staffs were flown around the country and world for a variety of conferences, fact-finding expeditions and speeches last year.
Federal legislators are required by law to file expense forms for all privately reimbursed travel related to their duties.
Following in the wake of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, Congressional leaders from both parties have focused on reforming lobbying disclosures, including gifts of travel. The Daily Sentinel’s analysis of travel disclosure documents found a large number of the representatives’ trips were paid for by nonprofit and industry interest groups.
In total Rep. Salazar disclosed $28,249.40 in travel expenses last year; Sen. Allard, $21,748.64; and Sen. Salazar, $8,039.85.
Representatives from the lawmakers’ offices said the trips were under the purview of their official responsibilities.
Among the highest-costing trips, including travel expenses, lodging, meals and other related expenses, were:
Rep. Salazar and his wife took a $14,119.78 trip to Tel Aviv, Israel, in August on an “education mission,” sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, an affiliate of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Staff from the office of Rep. Salazar traveled to Taiwan from March 21 to 27 for a $5,350 fact-finding trip, paid for by the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association.
Staff from the office of Allard traveled to Taiwan twice last year, in March and January for two fact-finding missions totaling $10,250, also paid for by the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association. According to spokeswoman Angela de Rocha, they discussed trade in American beef.
Allard, who chairs the Senate Housing and Transportation Subcommittee, traveled to Orlando, Fla., on a $4,085.60 trip to the Association of American Railroads Legislative Conference, paid for by the association.
Sen. Salazar’s largest trip was $2,236.66 to address the 2005 Conference of Western Attorney Generals from July 30 through Aug. 6 to give a speech, paid for by the conference. He is a former attorney general of Colorado.