Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Lookie Who Is On Top

Seattle most liberal congressman himself, Baghdad Jim McDermott.

WASHINGTON — Over the past five years, Seattle Rep. Jim McDermott has traveled to about a dozen countries and all over the United States, with private interests including think tanks, political-advocacy groups, universities and foreign-trade associations picking up the nearly $150,000 tab.

The total cost of McDermott's trips puts him in the top 20 Capitol Hill travelers, according to an analysis of privately sponsored trips taken by members of Congress and their staffs from Jan. 1, 2000, through June 30, 2005, compiled by Medill News Service, the Center for Public Integrity and American Public Media.

When McDermott staffers' trips are included, the totals rise to nearly 100 trips worth at least $280,000. That ranks his office No. 1 in privately funded travel among Washington's congressional delegation.