Members of Congress are required to file a financial form every year. This form includes gifts of travel for which someone else pays; last year nearly 1,900 trips at a cost of more than $6 million last year were taken by our representatives. Usually the travel is not second class; lawmakers bring along their husbands or wives, fly in business class, and stay in plush four-star hotels.
The form is widely used by reporters, watchdogs, and members of the public to scrutinize lawmakers' finances. However, the form no longer will ask for travel gifts; the House Ethics Committee says it's not needed as it is also reported to the House's Office of the Clerk.
This change just makes it harder for us to find out what favors are being passed out.
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