House Ethics Committee Reverses Stand On Reporting Privately-Sponsored Travel

After more than 30 years of requiring members of the U.S. House to disclose who has paid for travel, the House Ethics Committee has reportedly scrapped that policy in a closed-door meeting, according to the National Journal.

Such trips, often called "junkets", are still subject to reporting with the House's Office of the Clerk, but will now be omitted from member's annual financial forms submitted to the Ethics Committee, a requirement since its inception in the post-Watergate 1970s.

"Removing the travel disclosure requirement from the annual disclosure form is a blatant attempt to avoid accountability. The only Americans who would possibly be in favor of this change are members of Congress. It seems some lawmakers are eager to enjoy privately funded lavish trips without facing pesky questions from watchdog groups and constituents. The idea that this is a change for efficiency's sake is ludicrous," said Melanie Sloan, Executive Director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) in a statement released to the media.

The National Journal reports that change was discovered when the instructions for disclosure were distributed to members of Congress this year. The guidelines indicated that members "are no longer required to report privately sponsored travel" when they submit their documentation.

FMI: http://ethics.house.gov