TRIP : SOUTH AMERICA
Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago
February 19, 2005 – February 28, 2005
Rehberg Traveled To The South America In February 2005, Costing Taxpayers $3,004. According
to congressional travel records, Rehberg traveled to Panama, Argentina, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago
on a taxpayer-funded congressional trip from February 19 to February 28, 2005. The trip cost $3,004 for
Rehberg’s per diems. [CQ Moneyline, Congressional Travel]
HEADLINE – A ‘Fact-Finding’ Mission or Vacation? South American Trip Called a ‘Boondoggle.’
[Atlanta Constitution-Journal, 11/4/2007]
HEADLINE – Internal Emails Reveal Sharp Criticism, Hidden Costs of Taxpayer-Funded
Congressional Trip. [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
Few Trips “Have Raised Sharper Debate Behind the Scenes” Than Rehberg South America Trip
on Taxpayer Dime. As reported by Cox News Service, “And while these "fact-finding" missions
sometimes take lawmakers to hot spots such as Iraq and the Middle East, where they are clearly dealing
with crucial policy issues, other excursions to more pleasant climes are occasionally labeled as, well,
junketeering. Perhaps few have raised sharper debate behind the scenes than an unusually large House
delegation - 34 travelers plus an Air Force Boeing 737 and its crew of seven - that journeyed to some of
the most desirable tourist destinations in the Western Hemisphere in February of 2005.” [Cox News
Service, 10/26/2007]
Trip Itinerary Included “Tango Show” in Buenos Aires, “Boat Outing to See Famed Penguins of
Tierra del Fuego,” Trip to “Water Falls of Iguacu in Brazil” and “Foray Into the Amazon Jungle.”
As reported by Cox News Service, “Led by former Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, a
California Republican who has since lost his seat, the trip caused a stir in its planning stages when "The
Hill," a newspaper widely read on Capitol Hill, reported that it would include the Galapagos Islands. That
destination was quietly dropped. The final 11-day itinerary took the group to the Panama Canal, to
Buenos Aires for touring and a tango show as well as brief official meetings at their hotel, then to the
southernmost tip of the continent for a boat outing to see the famed penguins of Tierra del Fuego, then to
the water falls of Iguacu in Brazil and a foray into the Amazon jungle.” [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
“Delegation Stopped at Beach Resort of Tobago for Four Nights” En Route Home. As reported by
Cox News Service, “En route home, most of the delegation stopped at the beach resort of Tobago for four
nights-one extra to avoid a snowstorm in Washington.” [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
State Department Official Called Trip Most “Egregious” Boondoggle She’d Seen in 27 Year Career
at State Department. As reported by Cox News Service, “The far-flung travels brought a far harsher
judgment from one of the State Department officials involved in the planning. ‘In my 27 years with the
Department (of State) I've seen some codels that are boondoggles, but this one is really egregious,’
Dianne Graham, information officer at the U.S. embassy at Buenos Aires, e-mailed her colleagues. The
itinerary all but guaranteed that ‘no work’ would be done, she said.” [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
PAID FOR BY MONTANANS FOR TESTER
State Department Official: “Aren’t We Supposed to Fight Against Waste, Fraud and
Mismanagement?” As reported by Cox News Service, “Some congressional trips have been "laudatory,"
Graham continued. "But, I also remember a couple of proposed codels back in the 90s that (the State
Department liaison to Congress) actually killed because they were clearly not for working purposes.
‘Aren't we supposed to fight against Waste, Fraud and Mismanagement?’” [Cox News Service,
10/26/2007]
Flights on Plane From “Specially Outfitted VIP Fleet” Totaled At Least $320,000. As reported by
Cox News Service, “However, the e-mail exchanges among the trip planners provide details that point to
a total cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Among those expenses: The Boeing 737, part of a
specially outfitted VIP fleet operated out of Andrews Air Force base, costs an estimated $10,000 per
flying hour to operate. With 32 flying hours on the itinerary, that totals $320,000, not counting the ground
expenses of keeping the plane for 11 days.” [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
Hotels and Meals Cost Over $100,000. As reported by Cox News Service, “However, the e-mail
exchanges among the trip planners provide details that point to a total cost in the hundreds of thousands
of dollars. Among those expenses: Hotels and meals for all of the officials and traveling staff based on per
diem rates would be just over $100,000.” [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
Rehberg Took Taxpayer-Funded Trip to South America. As reported by the Cox News Service,
“Participants of the Pombo CODEL who were contacted, including Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona and
Democrat Ruben Hinojosa of Texas, declined to comment on the trip. Other members of the delegation
included Republican Reps. Dennis Rehberg of Montana and Devin Nunes of California, and Democratic
Reps. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, Grace Napolitano of California, Jay Inslee of Washington state, and
congressional delegates Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands and Madeleine Bordallo of Guam, both
Democrats.” [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
Tens of Thousands of Dollars for Advance Staff Work and “Round-the-Clock Staffing.” As reported
by Cox News Serivce, “However, the e-mail exchanges among the trip planners provide details that point
to a total cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Among those expenses: At each destination,
embassy personnel are required to travel ahead and set up a hotel suite or conference room, complete with
telephones, computers and fax machines, usually with round-the-clock staffing that costs in the tens of
thousands of dollars.” [Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
Tour Guides, Park Fees, Translators and Boat Rentals Added Up on Trip. As reported by Cox News
Service, “However, the e-mail exchanges among the trip planners provide details that point to a total cost
in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Among those expenses: Tour guides, park fees, translators and
boat rentals were needed at many of the stops. Vans and rental cars as well as drivers were also required.”
[Cox News Service, 10/26/2007]
PAID FOR BY MONTANANS FOR TESTER