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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Congressmen Studied Climate Change—on $500K Trip

Lawmakers snorkeled, visited South Pole

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(Newser) – Snorkeling, scuba diving, and penguin-watching were on the agenda when 10 members of Congress went on an 11-day trip to study climate change in early 2008, a Wall Street Journal investigation finds. Lawmakers from both parties, along with six spouses, visited New Zealand, Antarctica, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef on the trip, which, to some, sounds suspiciously like a jaunt to tourist hot spots.

Trip leader Rep. Brian Baird defended the journey, which cost taxpayers an estimated $500,000, calling it "more valuable than 100 hearings." And while his rep said Baird would have been "every bit as happy camping as staying in a hotel," documents show the group spent $32,000 on hotels and meals during its two days in Australia. But one Republican congressman who attended said it's not as good as it sounds: "There are a lot more glamorous things to do than hang out on the South Pole. I never want to wear that many clothes again."

Some of the lawmakers on the fact-finding trip scuba dived and snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef.
Some of the lawmakers on the fact-finding trip scuba dived and snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef.   (©clrcmck)
The lawmakers were flown to the South Pole while their spouses stayed behind in New Zealand.
The lawmakers were flown to the South Pole while their spouses stayed behind in New Zealand.   (©elisfanclub)
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The trip we made was more valuable than 100 hearings. Are there members of Congress who take trips somewhat recreationally? Perhaps. Is this what this trip was about? Absolutely not." - Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.)

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13 comments
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UrUndertaker
Aug 8, 09 8:19 AM CDT
documents show the group spent $32,000 on hotels and meals during its two days in Australia. But one Republican congressman who attended said it's not as good as it sounds:......I don't know, give an average family 500K to spend on that trip and the amount spent on food for that matter and they might think they had struck it rich as well as have one hell of a good time in the process Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Aug 8, 09 10:39 AM CDT
32,000 dollars divided by 16 people equals 2,000 dollars each. That's 1,000 dollars per person per day in Australia.
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+3
Broey88
Aug 8, 09 9:10 AM CDT
more glamourous things to do than go to the south pole? WHAT?! THAT WOULD BE FUCKING PHENOMENAL! Honestly, if our government was at all interested in doing ANYTHING about climate change they would have sent a team of scientists around the entire world with that money to study the drastic changes in environments. This was just a free vacation for a bunch of politicians and their families. American politics is such a joke. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Aug 8, 09 10:55 AM CDT
Not only American politics, politics in general is a twisted sick joke and none of us get to laugh most times.
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+2
Rob
Aug 8, 09 9:33 AM CDT
I want to see Antarctica with my own eyes, congressman. If you want to complain then you can send me. Reply
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+5

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