Do-Nothing Congress Takes a Vacation

Yet, nutty as they are, it’s also infuriating that these pampered politicos feel entitled to such a vacation. It’s another sign of their total disconnect from the hard realities of the workaday majority they’re supposed to serve. EARTH TO CONGRESS CRITTERS: Most American families are being hosed out of the middle class, having to work harder and longer for less pay, no benefits, and not even two weeks off, much less a five-week getaway.

In the spirit of fairness, though, I should concede that the current do-nothing House has been setting an eight-year performance record in one category of congressional activity: Junkateering. Yes, not only does this bunch love to vacation, but it also tiptoes around the ethics rules so lobbyists can pay for their trips. Not since the sleaze days of pay-to-play uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff have House members taken as many junkets, financed by corporate interests.

Oh, excuse me, they’re called “fact-finding missions,” not junkets. By whatever name, nearly 1,900 of the free trips were enjoyed last year by lawmakers, their spouses, and staff – paid for by private entities seeking legislative favors.

Adding to the disgust, House leaders very quietly axed an ethics requirement this year that lawmakers must disclose these travel freebies in their personal financial reports. Yet they wonder why their public approval rating is in the ditch.

***

This has been reposted from Jim Hightower’s website.