That Sledding Trip You Paid For....


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Wed Jul 12, 2006 at 07:12:09 AM EST

Silly NY taxpayers. Remember when you paid to have John Sweeney and a bunch of politicians and lobbyists party and go sledding? Boy, you sure know how to stir up trouble. Apparently Pete Sessions (R-TX) is catching a little heat for his attendence and his apparent confusion over who paid for the trip (you really can't blame him, the sledding in Texas is horrible).
Lake Placid, New York was the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. Last January it was also the site for the Congressional Winter Olympic Challenge. The trip included three days of snowshoeing, skiing, skating, and gondola rides for congressmen, their families and lobbyists… all paid for with public money.

Dallas congressman Pete Sessions, his wife and son, were among those attending.

So who paid for their trip? Sessions' office says New York states Olympic Regional Development Authority picked up the airfare. The authority says that’s not true, and that the trip was paid for by the United States Olympic Committee.
John Sweeney defended the tobogganboondoggle
Sweeney, a republican congressman from New York, says the purpose of the trip was to inspect, "certain structural improvements and evaluate the need for additional federal assistance at Lake Placid.”
Hmmm. I'm sure they can tie this into homeland security somehow. Just give them some time.

Hat tip to the TMPMuckraker

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That Sledding Trip You Paid For.... | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
Inspected by children? (none / 0) (#1)
by A Muse on Wed Jul 12, 2006 at 08:40:20 AM EST
Certainly professionals should inspect the site.  What expertise do these politicians, spouses and children have?  A little graft from the Olympic Committee or is it just a gift?  Does it have to be declared?  It is fine to get someone's ear, however, the kids and wife should reimburse the Olympic Committee in full.  Additionally politicians have to eat and they should pay for meals - want fries with that?  Is there a videotape of Sweeney on a toboggan?  Maybe it could be sold to recoup the costs to the public.  All families have the right to enjoy time together, however, the public should not have to pay for it.
State legislators (none / 0) (#2)
by Andrew C White on Wed Jul 12, 2006 at 09:45:34 AM EST
are looking into this mess. While bringing attention to and promoting New York tourism and business is important there are some serious questions about how this got turned into a freebie vacation present to Sweeney's best buddies in the lobbying business... most of whom have nothing to do with promoting Olympics or Skiing activities.

Some of those State legislators and aspiring legislators will be attending the Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region 2006 Candidate Forum this evening, Wed, July 12, 7:00 PM, at the SEIU 1199 building, 155 Washington Ave (between Lark and Dove, right next door to the Albany Public Library).

All are welcome, admission is free to the public.

Lobbyists and Republican lawmakers must bring their own kegs and submit refund checks and get out of jail free cards to all other attendees (just kidding).
 
Full Disclosure: I am Chair of the Darius Shahinfar for Congress Campaign Committee in NY-21.

That Sledding Trip You Paid For.... | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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