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Military helps fund congressional trips
Military officials bought thousands of dollars worth of alcohol, food and other amenities for the U.S. lawmakers they accompanied on trips overseas, travel records viewed by The Wall Street Journal show.
The documents don't show these outlays have secured any favors or favoritism from lawmakers. And the funds spent by military personnel"which ran about $4,300 per trip for the 43 trips examined by the Journal"usually account for only a small portion of the total lawmakers spend on overseas travel.
Instead, the records shed light for the first time on how the military exploits its official escort role on these trips to foster relationships with lawmakers who approve departmental budgets and top appointments. The disclosures also underscore the military's pervasive pursuit of congressional access.