The Nation - News from Feb. 23, 1986

Taxpayers spent at least $9.28 million on worldwide trips for traveling members of Congress in 1984-85, with Europe the favorite destination, a watchdog group reported. Travel by House members accounted for $8.23 million or 88% of the total, including a $118,331 trip to Ireland last March by an 11-member entourage headed by House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill Jr., “to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.” Nancy Drabble, director of Congress Watch, said the report was compiled from official travel expense records published in the Congressional Record but that actual cost of foreign travel by lawmakers “probably is double when you include all costs.”