March of the Pigs

When 10 members of Congress wanted to study climate change, they did more than just dip their toes into the subject: They went diving and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. They also rode a cable car through the Australian rain forest, visited a penguin rookery and flew to the South Pole.

How proud am I? One of the members of Congress doing the March of the Penguins was my own Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.)!

The South Pole trip, led by Rep. Brian Baird (D., Wash.), ranks among the priciest. The lawmakers reported a cost to taxpayers of $103,000.

That figure, however, doesn't include the actual flying, because the trip used the Air Force planes, not commercial carriers. Flight costs would lift the total tab to more than $500,000, based on Defense Department figures for aircraft per-hour operating costs.

Lawmakers say the trip offered them a valuable chance to learn about global warming and to monitor how federal funds are spent. "The trip we made was more valuable than 100 hearings," said Rep. Baird, its leader. "Are there members of Congress who take trips somewhat recreationally? Perhaps. Is this what this trip was about? Absolutely not."

We send federal funds to the South Pole? Huh, I didn't know that - learn something new everyday.

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to just get them a DVD of An Inconvenient Truth with maybe tickets to a Melissa Etheridge concert thrown it. 'Cause I am willing to bet that this trip did nothing to change their minds and they thought the same way - that is, as does Al - after this trip as they did before.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Loretta preferred to snorkel, rather than dive, in Australia. So she saved some money.