Lawmaker trips questioned

Lawmaker trips questioned
Deb Price Detroit News Washington Bureau
November 08, 2009 14:42 PM

Washington -- Four Michigan congressmen took their wives on all-expense-paid domestic and international trips for work this year, raising questions among government watchdogs about the legal practice of outside groups paying for spouses' travel.

Reps. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township; Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph; and Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, visited Israel, Spain and the Canadian Rockies, respectively, with their wives, according to travel documents they are required to file. The trips were paid for by outside groups. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, went to Colorado twice this year with his wife on trips paid for by outside groups.

Such trips aren't uncommon for House members and their spouses. The trips are allowed under House ethics rules adopted in 2007 in the wake of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and were approved in advance by the House ethics committee. The rules scaled back the kind of free trips lawmakers can accept to reduce influence by special interests.

But some watchdogs question why the House rules continue to allow spouses' expenses to be covered, saying the practice should be banned.

"It smacks of a regal lifestyle that is beyond the access of ordinary citizens," said Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist at Public Citizen, a nonpartisan government watchdog.

Lawmakers defend the ethics rules, contending constituents benefit from spouses having knowledge about policy issues.

"It's useful to have a spouse along," Ehlers said. "People (in the district) ask her questions about issues. And I find it helpful to have her input."

Ehlers added his wife attended most of the events on education in Canada.

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