Sensenbrenner's travel scrutinized

[sabra]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/13695857.htm

Sensenbrenner's travel scrutinized
Republican took 5 privately funded trips last year


Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, who has been one of the most active congressional travelers for years, took five privately funded trips last year totaling $39,000, an Associated Press review has found.
Soon, Sensenbrenner may be forced to scale back as Congress considers banning such trips.

Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., led all members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation in both frequency of trips and costs. Another Republican, Rep. Paul Ryan, was second with four trips totaling $23,000.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has proposed banning all privately funded travel in response to the Jack Abramoff scandal. Abramoff, a lobbyist convicted of felony charges related to congressional influence peddling, provided gifts, expensive meals and golf trips to lawmakers.

Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, traveled to Europe, Japan and Las Vegas, and twice to San Francisco last year, congressional records show.

[LeftHander]

1. I want to know....

What were these trips for. What was Sensenbrenner's itinerary. Who funded them....and what legislation was influenced as a result.

[htuttle]

2. Waukesha Co. is sort of a hotbed of corrupt government officials

It's where Sensenbrenner (R-Jackass) is from, and also where former WI Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen (R-Mobster), currently under indictment, is from.

Must be a lot of gangsters living in the suburbs.

[rodeodance]

4. yes,--thanks for the reminder.

[LeftHander]

8. Top Contributor is Enron Bankrupcy Law Firm..

I've always felt Sensenbrenner was an embarassment to Wisconsin politics. A true "yes" man despite what was said in that article. He has time and time again taken the side of the neocons despite holding a opposite view point many times. He blusters out the facade that he is outraged and opposing some Bush policy but ultimately slips in line when he sees that his cushy job might be threatened if he did'nt stay in line.

Each cycle a dem keeps more and more votes. A green party candidate even had a good showing against him four years ago.

This travel is going to be a big issue for him to deal with. If it looks and smells like a bribe it probably is.

Despite the "ethical" approval of the house ethics and the legality.

Like a trip to Vegas and Paris is about policy....that is bullshit...he is seeing the world on someones dime and they are getting favors in return.

Seems to me there was a recent vote some years back on the FCC consolidation of ownership. Journal Communications is a supporter of Sensenbrenner and Journal Communications has WTMJ TV, WTMJ 620 radio and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.


"From the boulevards of Paris to the beaches of Puerto Rico, members of Congress — Democrat and Republican — have taken more than $16 million in trips paid by private sources in the last five years, according to a report released by PoliticalMoneyLine, an independent research group.

At the top of the list, at least monetarily, sits Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who has taken $167,000 worth of trips." - ABC News - SensenbrennerWatch.blogspot.com more:

F. James Sensenbrenner, Republican Party
Total number of trips - 16
Total cost of trips - $126,424.65
Average cost per trip - $7,901.54
Total number of days spent traveling - 95 days
Rank of representative - 14 (Out of 582)

From PublicINtegrity.com

Sensenbrenners top contributor is the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. They are deeply tied to the media and broadcast industry. The top contributors to Sensenbrenner are all media companies. Sensenbrenner Chairs the House Judiciary Comittee. Weil, Gotshal and Manges is also the firm representing Enron in it's bankrupcy.

1 Weil, Gotshal & Manges $8,000
2 Broadcast Music Inc $6,000
2 News Corp $6,000
4 Comcast Corp $5,000


Sensenbrenner has been at this game a long time, he knows how to play all too well.

[badgervan]

14. So True

As a fellow Wisconsinite, I agree 100% with you that f. jim is a total embarassment to our state. Completely bought and paid for, the guy has the intelligence of a rutabaga, and time after time votes for the rich and against the needy. The reason his district is so crooked is the almost total rich republican make-up of voters there. These folks have their own set of rules, I guess: $ makes right.
And Paul Ryan, another Wisconsin repub, is right up there with him. So much for their responsibility to represent all of us. Man, I despise these arrogant a-holes. May they all be put out to pasture very soon.

[Punkingal]

3. Free trips....

And this A**hole is one of the richest members of Congress. They are just disgusting.

[wordpix]

5. so rich they have to take trips on corporate accts-disgusting

[orwell]

6. Hey...

...Las Vegas is an important fact-finding location...if you want to find out how much hookers cost per hour...

Give the guy a break...

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Oh please...

Let this phewl be hoist on his own petard. Perhaps the nastiest person in politics and that is quite the achievement.

[HereSince1628]

15. Amen, and amen.

Oh! If only we could get a handhold on ANYTHING that can be used to drive Sensenbrenner out of office!

[realFedUp]

9. Is there a website that tracks who pays for Congressional trips?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Mithras61]

10. They don't really track trips...

but OpenSecrets is pretty good about tracking where the money comes & goes...

[realFedUp]

13. thank you....nt

[LeftHander]

11. yup...I think this is one

http://publicintegrity.org

[realFedUp]

12. thank you....section on Lobbying FAQ's is interesting...

maybe our representatives should read it.