I feel like playing whack-a-mole!

Privately Funded Trips Add Up on Capitol Hill
Report: $50 Million Spent in 2000-2005

By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 6, 2006; A01

Over 5 1/2 years, Republican and Democratic lawmakers accepted nearly $50 million in trips, often to resorts and exclusive locales, from corporations and groups seeking legislative favors, according to the most comprehensive study to date on the subject of congressional travel.

From January 2000 through June 2005, House and Senate members and their aides were away from Washington for more than 81,000 days -- a combined 222 years -- on at least 23,000 trips, according to the report, issued yesterday by the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity. About 2,300 of the trips cost $5,000 or more, at least 500 cost $10,000 or more, and 16 cost $25,000 or more.

With a large flat shovel, each burrowing pest slammed across the head so that it bulges, and then explodes with a ferocious force, as the cries of pain bring calm to all of the land- a fitting end to such pests...
--WP