Records: Lobbyist Paid for Ireland Trip

Records: Lobbyist Paid for Ireland Trip

Thursday May 5, 2005 12:46 AM


By MATTHEW DALY

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Aides to Republican lawmakers said Wednesday they are reviewing a 2003 trip to Ireland to determine if a lobbyist paid for it - as congressional records indicate.

If the records are accurate, the trip by Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon, former Sen. Don Nickles of Oklahoma and Reps. Howard Coble of North Carolina, Harold Rogers of Kentucky and Clay Shaw of Florida violated ethics rules that bar lobbying firms from paying for trips taken by members of Congress.

``If there was a problem with the paperwork we'll fix it promptly,'' said Chris Matthews, a spokesman for Smith.

``We are trying to obtain documentation of who paid so we can go back and review this with the ethics committee,'' said Ed McDonald, Coble's chief of staff.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4983245,00.html

the ugly little bastards. May they all get kicked out of our congress!
:nuke:

There, now wasn't that easy.

"``If there was a problem with the paperwork we'll fix it promptly,'' said Chris Matthews, a spokesman for Smith. "

BY MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press

May 5, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith's office said Wednesday that it is reviewing a 2003 trip to Ireland to determine whether a lobbyist paid for it, as Senate records indicate.

If the records are accurate, the trip by Smith and four other Republican lawmakers would violate ethics rules that bar lobbying firms from paying for trips taken by members of Congress.

"If there was a problem with the paperwork, we'll fix it promptly," said Chris Matthews, a spokesman for Smith.

"We're just looking into it to make sure that everything was consistent with the senator's standards," Matthews said. "If there is anything incorrect -- whether information on the forms or otherwise -- the senator will rectify the situation."

link: http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050505/STATE/505050343/1042

Jesus! Why in the hell is anyone else paying for their trips at all? They get paid -- FROM MY TAX DOLLARS -- very well. And they'll be well taken care of in retirement. They should pay for their own damned trips.

:kick: