Congressman Accused of Badly Managing at Least $7,000 in Taxpayer Money

In early February, 2009, 13 lawmakers and 10 spouses were a delegation who made a trip presumably for a meeting at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The purpose of the trip, however, was not such a priority that the junket did not have time to make stops in the Bavarian Alps; Paris, France; and Vienna, Austria.

The delegation included house members John Tanner (D-Tenn.), Ben Chandler (D-Ky.); Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.); Baron P. Hill (D-Ind.) Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.); Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.); Charlie Melancon (D-La.); Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) Mike Ross (D-Ark.) David Scott (D-Ga.); John Boozman (R-Ark.); Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and Jeff Miller (R-Fla.).

The bi-partisan group of ten Democrats and three Republicans counted a stop at the posh Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski resort among their stops.

Similarly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.) led a delegation to Rome, Italy, where she was awarded a medal, that same month.

The amazing waste of taxpayer dollars has come under fire from among others Dave Evans, a candidate seeking the Sixth Congressional seat from Tennessee in the House of Representatives, which is currently occupied by Bart Gordon.

Dave Evans, a conservative, said yesterday in a press release, "As Congressman Gordon had no official governmental reason to be on this trip, and as his office issued no public statement as to the reason for this trip, we can only conclude the obvious: Congressman Gordon's friend Democrat Congressman John Tanner from Tennessee, who was heading a House delegation to NATO's Parliamentary Assembly in February, allowed Congressman Gordon to tag along on the plane rides over and back and get a free European vacation paid for by the taxpayers."

Truman Bean, a middle Tennessee conservative, said, "In these tough economic times many Middle Tennesseans are struggling to make ends meet. Layoffs, home foreclosures, bankruptcies, high electric bills, and high taxes make it hard for ends to meet. In this environment, I question why Bart Gordon apparently travelled to Europe...at taxpayer's expense. Is it a reward for voting the party line on the wasteful spending bill...Can we afford to pay for vacations for our elected officials?"

In Dave Evan's statement he has asked for Bart Gordon to:

Repay the taxpayers at least $7,250, our estimates of the money spent by taxpayers for airfare, lodging, and meals on his nine-day European vacation.
Release a full financial accounting of every penny spent on this trip on his personal expenditures, including airfare, hotel, and lodging receipts.
Release a full financial accounting of every penny spent on this trip for any member of his family who accompanied him on this trip.
Issue a public statement explaining why he failed to transparently disclose the nature of this trip and his reason for taking this trip before, during, and after the event took place.
Issue a public statement offering an explanation as to the justification for the official business he conducted while on this trip and his full itinerary.

Evans explained, ""Given the difficult economic times in which most Tennesseans find themselves today, Congressman Gordon's personal abuse of the powers of his office are astounding. While many Tennesseans are unemployed and being hit by higher taxes and the massive debt we must now pay as a result of Congressman Gordon's recent votes, he's gallivanting around Europe, eating at fancy restaurants and staying at nice hotels on the money our elected representative is squeezing out of the pockets of Tennessee taxpayers. Middle Tennesseans have a right to know this information.

"What Congressman Gordon has done is morally wrong. He needs not only to pay this money back, he needs to publicly apologize for his arrogant conduct and blatant abuse of public trust."

Sources:

The Washington Post, Intrepid Lawmakers To Brave The Alpine Front, by Al Kamen
Press Release, Dave Evans For Congress, March 16, 2009