De Parlementaire Democratie

De Wshington Post bericht: 'Privately Funded Trips Add Up on Capitol Hill
Report: $50 Million Spent in 2000-2005.

Over 5 1/2 years, Republican and Democratic lawmakers accepted nearly $50 million in trips, often to resorts and exclusive locales, from corporations and groups seeking legislative favors, according to the most comprehensive study to date on the subject of congressional travel.
From January 2000 through June 2005, House and Senate members and their aides were away from Washington for more than 81,000 days -- a combined 222 years -- on at least 23,000 trips, according to the report, issued yesterday by the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity. About 2,300 of the trips cost $5,000 or more, at least 500 cost $10,000 or more, and 16 cost $25,000 or more.
"While some of these trips might qualify as legitimate fact-finding missions," the study said, "the purpose of others is less clear." In addition, the lawmakers' financial reports that disclose the details of the trips are routinely riddled with mistakes and omissions.
Lawmakers and their staffers were treated to $25,000 corporate-jet rides and $500-a-night hotel rooms, the study showed. Lawmakers accepted thousands of costly jaunts -- one worth more than $30,000 -- to some of the world's choicest destinations: at least 200 trips to Paris, 150 to Hawaii and 140 to Italy.
"Congressional travelers gave speeches in Scotland, attended meetings in Australia and toured nuclear facilities in Spain," the study reported. "They pondered welfare reform in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the future of Social Security at a Colorado ski resort."' Lees verder:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/05/AR2006060501496.html?referrer=email En: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/washington/06travel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin En natuurlijk voor wat hoort wat. De New York Times bericht: 'Ex-Official Testifies He Provided "Insight and Advice" to Abramoff.

WASHINGTON, June 5 — A former White House budget official acknowledged Monday that he had provided "a lot of insight and advice," including government information not available to the public, to the lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2002.

But the former aide, David H. Safavian, testified that he had not violated ethics rules in accepting the lobbyist's invitation for a golfing trip to Scotland that summer.
Mr. Safavian insisted in testimony in federal court here that he had not lied to government investigators when he was asked about the golf trip, although he acknowledged giving them inaccurate information about some contacts with Mr. Abramoff, a former lobbying partner.
Mr. Safavian, who is charged with lying about his relationship with Mr. Abramoff and the circumstances of the golf trip, attributed the inaccuracies to a faulty memory, a claim that brought expressions of disbelief from prosecutors.' Lees verder: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/washington/06safavian.html

Is de situatie in Nederland door onze immer wakkere politieke pers al onderzocht?