Photo Credit: Mike Tripp - The NewsleaderCongressman Bob Goodlatte in Cargill Coveralls - Tour of Winding River Farm - May 19, 2008Posted with Full Permission.
By Hank Bostwick - Star City HarbingerHarrisonburg’s
DNRonline.com reported yesterday on Republican Representative
Bob Goodlatte’s new status:
lucky number 7 on the free trips list. Leah Nylen of the Daily News-Record reports that Goodlatte has received almost $54, 000 in free travel from a variety of special interest groups; while his staff has received over $220, 000 in gratuitous trips. But this is apparently nothing new.
In 2007, The Center for Public Integrity reported that Goodlatte was in the top ten list of House members receiving over $45, 000 in power trips.
When questioned by Nylen about the appropriateness of his travel donations, Goodlatte denied any ethical violations and, indeed, Goodlatte has violated no law. However, sometimes ethical behavior requires a consideration of appearances.
While Goodlatte’s acceptance of such exorbitant travel honoraria does not break the law, it reveals a dangerous propensity to ignore appearances and the importance of staying above reproach. There was a time when Goodlatte promised that he would not even use his entire congressional postage budget if elected, now . . . well, you can read for yourself.
Although he wisely signed on to the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (which was also politically low-risk and expedient), Goodlatte exhibits a voting and legislative record that is seemingly adverse to meaningful, bipartisan and independent ethical oversight in the House of Representatives.
In March of this year, Goodlatte voted against a bill that would have established an independent, bipartisan Congressional ethics office. (Source: Project Vote Smart).
In 2006, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, loopholes in Goodlatte’s internet gambling bill may have been the result of influence from former lobbyist Jack Abramoff over a five or six year period.
In 2005, Goodlatte voted to table a bill that would have created a “non-partisan professional” staff to consider issues of ethical reform in Congress.
It was only back in 1997 while Republicans controlled the House that Goodlatte approved legislation creating the House Ethics Task Force, a hopelessly partisan committee tainted by the scandals involving former Representative Tom Delay (R-TX). Since then, Goodlatte has objected to revising those oversight rules in the House of Representatives.
Perhaps, Goodlatte’s excessive travel budget is evidence of the fact that our Honorable Congressman has grown complacent in his incumbency.
I mean, without oversight, anyone may become prone to excess.
