Scientific Fact-Finding or Fleecing Taxpayers?

Congressman Brian Baird represents Washington State’s 3rd Congressional District, which along the I-5 corridor, runs basically from Olympia to Vancouver.

Normally one to keep a low profile, this week, Baird drew national attention. And not the kind of attention that a candidate running for re-election in times of financial hardship for taxpayers wants to have.

In yesterday’s Wall Street Journal (“Congress’s Travel Tab Swells“), Baird made the cut for Congressman who took questionable trips on the taxpayer dime:

Some of the most expensive travel is to exotic locales.

Last summer, Rep. Brian Baird (D., Wash.) took a four-day trip to the Galápagos Islands with his wife, four other lawmakers and their family members. The lawmakers spent $22,000 on meals and hotels, records show. Mr. Baird, a member of the House Science Committee, said the trip was to learn about global warming.

On the first day, lawmakers toured a breeding center for giant tortoise and land iguanas before dining with scientists, according to an itinerary for the trip. The next morning, lawmakers headed to the Galápagos National Park while their family members had the option of hiking, swimming or shopping. That afternoon, the group boarded a boat to visit a sea-lion colony and search for white-tip sharks.

Mr. Baird didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Baird’s trip was widely publicized last fall in an edition of “Inside Edition,” after a producer and reporter from the show went undercover posing as tourists to report on the trip.

After the story aired, it drew the attention of the Associated Press and Seattle Times:

According to an “Inside Edition” press release, the delegation took a military jet to the islands. The show also said the representatives stayed at an expensive island resort and were “treated like royalty.”
…
“Hidden cameras also captured them taking full advantage of this exotic locale, enjoying fine wine and sushi dinners, bicycling, shopping and picture taking,” the release said.

Baird has not yet responded to our attempts to reach him for comment on his inclusion in the WSJ’s report on questionable taxpayer funded travel.  To see a roster of trips Baird took financed by private interests, click here.

One of Baird’s 2010 Republican rivals, Jon Russell of Washougal, told NWDIGEST:

While many of us worry about losing our jobs and struggling to pay our mortgages; Congress is only concerned with enjoying the good life on our dime.

Baird’s other 2010 Republican opponent, David Castillo of Olympia, responded:

Even if we were not in tough economic times, these junkets must be scrutinized. I question how a trip to the Galapagos will save one job in the 3rd district. Taxpayers spend enough money flying Baird to and from the district to Washington, DC, they should not be on the hook for unnecessary travel.

What do you think? Was Baird’s trip an abuse of taxpayer dollars?

Tags: Brian Baird, Congress, David Castillo, featured, Galapagos Islands, Jon Russell, Wall Street Journal

Andrew

Andrew is a UW alum, Seattle native and dedicated hometown football fan.

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