Details about this story

• Source: Center for Public Integrity
• Date: June 05, 2006
• URL: Read the story
• Bylines: Daniel Lathrop , Jim Morris
• Topics: Politics , Lobbying
• Data Types: Paper Trail
• Description/Excerpt: A nine-month analysis of congressional disclosure forms for travel from January 2000 through June 2005 done by the Center for Public Integrity, American Public Media and Northwestern University's Medill News Service turned up thousands of costly excursions - 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. They pondered welfare reform in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the future of Social Security at a Colorado ski resort, according to the forms. Some trips seem to have been little more than pricey vacations - often taken in the company of spouses or other relatives - wrapped around speeches or seminars.
• Methodology: See explainer
• Database or Graphic: Go to site (aspx)