The party in charge of Congress changed, but the appetite for freebies apparently didn’t. Despite new House restrictions on travel paid by lobbyists, lawmakers have accepted nearly $1.9 million worth of free trips this year, more than all of last year, USA Today reported. Part of the reason for the increase is that last year’s total was low because lawmakers were worried about what voters would think about the free trips. There is also an exception in the new travel restrictions that allows lawmakers to accept free trips for stays of only one or two nights. USA Today reported that 22 House Democrats and three Republicans accepted nearly $40,000 in travel under that exception.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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When will the Eagle do some investigative journalism about plane flights by Kansas government officials?
Before flying to Greensburg after the tornado, Sebelius flew from Kentucky to New Orleans, which was paid for by the Democratic Governor’s Association. Kansans paid for Sebelius’ private flight from New Orleans to Topeka. If political business took Sebelius out of the state (how did she get to Kentucky and why?), why are taxpayers paying to fly her back? Sebelius never has explained why she was out of the state when the tornado struck. Why?
And what about Sebelius’ trip to Turkey? The Gov. of Texas went on that same trip and paid for it out of his campaign account. Sebelius has plenty of money in her campaign account, and her private Bluestem PAC, but she’d rather stick taxpayers for this trip that had no official purpose?
When will the Eagle or the Kansas press ask some questions?
Was it the Bilderburg Conference, which Gov Sebelius and Gov Rick Perry (TX) reportedly attended? The annual meeting whose global VIP attendees are sworn to secrecy to not divulge to the public any matters discussed, and the media is excluded, in order that conferees can “talk freely”?
This trip was apparently reported in the KC Star in September, according to KSM and others:
http://www.topix.net/content/kri/2007/09/sebelius-attends-posh-bilderberg-conference
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=153×8504
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/6166
Yet the op-ed can’t be found in the KCS archives. 1984 coming to pass, with erased electronic news?
Sebelius in June attended a gathering of the Bilderberg Group in Istanbul, Turkey. Bilderberg is an exclusive group of international business leaders, top politicians and academics from around the globe that meets once a year at top resorts. The enigmatic group is the frequent subject of New World Order conspiracy theories.Sebelius spoke to the gathering about cooperation and consensus-building in government, according to Nicole Corcoran, her spokeswoman.’It is a rather prestigious group,’ Corcoran said. ‘She was pleased to be invited.’Started in 1954, Bilderberg brings more than 100 leaders together every year at four- and five-star resorts, typically in Europe. Bilderberg’s original goal was the fostering of ties between leaders in Western Europe and the United States, but it has expanded into a sort of annual symposium of the elite.Previous participants include Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Donald Rumsfeld, Prince Charles, Gerald Ford, Henry Kissinger, numerous European politicians, top executives, and members of families like the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds.The meetings are private, and Bilderberg does not allow uninvited participants or members of the media.It’s unusual, though not unheard of, for Bilderberg to invite U.S. governors. Sebelius was joined this year by Texas Gov. Rick Perry.Bilderberg paid for Sebelius’ flight to Istanbul. Her expenses while at the May 31-June 3 meeting, which came to $1,274, were paid out of her office budget.Though the amount may be small, it bothers some conservatives and anti-tax advocates who wonder what Kansas taxpayers got out of the visit.’It’s very distressing to discover that Kansas taxpayers were helping to fund an international conference for the governor,’ said Karl Peterjohn, director of the Kansas Taxpayers Network. ‘I think it’s hard to find a benefit to us for her going to the Istanbul Ritz-Carlton.’
At any rate, Bilderberg reportedly paid for the flight, with other expenses paid for by Sebelius’s “office”.
Where are the dedicated defenders of Democratic party on THIS one? I also saw a news article this weekend that Congress is ratcheting back its ‘work week’. Can this be? The “perfect Democrats” are just as corrupt as everyone else?
Our association with Israel has taken us to the gutter.
Meet the new boss same as the old boss.
They ALL serve the same master. The military industrial complex. War is big business, and they ALL feed at the campaign contribution trough.
What difference does it matter which party we elect when they are just two sides of the same coin?
And that “coin” was minted by corporations…
…and the sheeple sleep. They think they have a CHOICE about voting.
Heheheh. No choice if your only choices are dems and repukes.
If people dont wake up and ditch these two parties, well, I guess it will be true.
We WILL have the government we deserve.
People forgot what the democrats were doing when they were in charge.
So it is back to the same old thing. Tell the people one thing and then go do the opposite.
So much for the change they promised in the 2006 elections.
Culture of Corruption, funny how the Democrats tried to put that label on Republicans.
They all suck! Vote em all out!
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071024/a_travel_inside24.art.htm
In all, 22 House Democrats and three Republicans accepted nearly $40,000 in travel under that exemption, according to reports filed with the House ethics committee. Kilpatrick and an aide accepted $2,500 worth of airline tickets, ground transportation, lodging and meals from DaVita, records show.
Culture of Corruption, funny how the Democrats tried to put that label on Republicans.
They all suck! Vote em all out!
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071024/a_travel_inside24.art.htm
In all, 22 House Democrats and three Republicans accepted nearly $40,000 in travel under that exemption, according to reports filed with the House ethics committee. Kilpatrick and an aide accepted $2,500 worth of airline tickets, ground transportation, lodging and meals from DaVita, records show.
Do Americans decide their president or does Israel?
The Israeli Factor.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=726875
Now we know where the WE Blog get’s it’s news:
http://www.democraticwarrior.com/forum/showthread.php?p=175017
Heheheeh. I asked the question last week.
How does it feel to be a helpless little bitch at the mercy of the libs who DICTATE what goes on in the threads, the posts….
I mean, that’s what you are saying, no?
Do you just enjoy being powerless and at the mercy of the eds?
hehehehehehe…..
Looks to me like the EDS are more at the mercy of troll boy…
Will the WE Blog tolerate such vile language from ksfarmtwat forever?
james, you need to go to the ss office and ask for a new medicaid card. You CLEARLY arent getting the right meds now.
“helpless little bitch”
heheheheh.
I guess I struck a nerve?
Maybe JR can post the troll’s greatest hits.
And JM? I have never been banned.
And you?
Just getting down to your level, farmtwat.
Whatsamatter, can’t take it?
That’s ok, you will complain and have posts offensive to you remain, while your crap lays out there to rot for all to see.
Fine with me.
Well I found my future career…
40000 in travel,lodging, just doesn’t seem like too big of a number when spread over twenty people.
Oh yes, please. Hide the children.
Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee
I just love getting him all worked up and then leaving him unanswered and unsatisfied.
I think that’s called a PRICK tease?
So.. JM… I’m ready to take that FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR BET that you NEVER post under any other nics?
Wassa matter boy? Scared?
heheheheheheheheheheheheh…..
I mean, since your investments are doing so well, how about making it TEN thousand dollars?
(crickets chirping)
Let’s get rid of these too Capn:
“helpless little bitch”heheheheh.
I guess I struck a nerve?Maybe JR can post the troll’s greatest hits.And JM? I have never been banned.And you?Posted by: ksfarmgrrl | October 29, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Heheheeh. I asked the question last week.How does it feel to be a helpless little bitch at the mercy of the libs who DICTATE what goes on in the threads, the posts….I mean, that’s what you are saying, no?Do you just enjoy being powerless and at the mercy of the eds?hehehehehehe…..Looks to me like the EDS are more at the mercy of troll boy…Posted by: ksfarmgrrl | October 29, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Guys this arguing needs to stop…
And the lefties are surprised at their party’s behavior. That’s why I’ve always said, it’s not about the party, it’s about the person (in power). The prior regime of Republicans did not follow the conservative platform or values, and ditto for the Pelosi-leadership. Both sides have long sense forgotten their core values. The current Pelosi-crew are no more concerned about (in my best crying voice) “the children” or “the poor” than the last Republicans were concerned with free markets (which empowers the poor and parents taking care of their own children, instead of letter government/schools become surrogate parents).
So, does ksfarmgirl have a point about being helpless. If you are inclined to follow party line and not put energy into the right/best person, then yes, you are helpless (among other adjetives I won’t mentiion). Otherwise, no, you are not helpless. You can make a difference by applying simple, but effective, common sense critical thinking ’smell’ tests’. What are they? Go learn to ‘fish’ for facts, figures, perspectives. Don’t rely on someone else to feed you the fish. When Randy Scholfield makes a claim, go find out for yourself the source of the data, the quality of the data and put the data into perspective. All something that the Eagle does not do (nor several thousand other media outlets). Empower yourself to turn data into information, information into knowledge, and finally knowledge into a such a powerful source that our elected officials are fearful of what we know, instead of laughing at what we don’t know. We get the government we deserve, not the government we want, until we gain the knowlege and vote.
OK, I’m off my soapbox.
Yes, some spelling and typo’s. Sorry.
Stop that ID. Stop that RIGHT NOW!!
You are not allowed to make sense on the WEBLOG.
This is an intolerable, and somewhat an unusual situation.
I’ll have to review this months tape recording to see how to respond.
We have too many people in this country now, so cut-off all immigration.
No more traffic jams…
Capn is strangely silent on this.. he chortles with glee anytime he can spew venom..but when it is his own beloved Dems getting caught, he is strangely silent.