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Congressmen Studied Climate Change—on $500K Trip

Lawmakers snorkeled, visited South Pole

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 8, 2009 8:12 AM CDT

(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."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

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. (©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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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

EKD

Aug 9, 2009 3:36 AM CDT

Just WHO are these congressmen and did we the people pay for their spouses vacation?

tazsugs

Aug 8, 2009 8:32 AM CDT

its not hard to figure out why we have the huge debt that we have.if i took a luxury trip when my finaces where in the red i wouldnt have a home to come back too.yet our goverment can do it over and over again.our kids are going to inherit a third world country someday because of it. unreal,... im struggling to take my kids to the local fair and these people are livin it up around the globe on my kids dime......sounds criminal to me.

Rob

Aug 8, 2009 5:49 AM CDT

Unfortunately, the effects of warming on the fragile areas like Antarctica are visible only over time. No one could really see it by going there. I don't believe they could do anything on this "fact finding" mission, let alone change their opinions. They would do more good to look at the long term data, more cost efficient too.

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climate change • Congress • Travel • global warming • Antarctica • Great Barrier Reef

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Congressmen Studied Climate Change—on $500K Trip