Groups Foot Travel Bills for for U.S. House

From Israel to Istanbul, House members roamed the globe last year at the expense of interest groups, according to financial statements that offer glimpses into the lives of America’s lawmakers.

Domestic destinations were favored as well, as scores of House members reported all-expense paid trips to such locations as Sun Valley, Ida., and Palm Springs.

In a connection that sparks outrage from groups pressing for government reform, the journeys often dovetailed with the lawmakers’ legislative assignments.

Rep. Pat Roberts of Kansas, senior Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, reported eight all-expense paid trips in 1993. They included January travel to Marco Island, Fla., paid for by the National Pork Producers Council, and to Phoenix, courtesy of the National Cattlemen’s Assn.

Rep. J. Roy Rowland (D-Ga.), a physician and member of a health subcommittee, traveled at the expense of the Tobacco Institute (to Palm Springs), the American Medical Assn. (to Atlanta), and the lobbying firm of Campbell Raupe Inc. (to West Palm Beach, Fla.).

House members are required to file financial disclosure statements annually that show income--including a salary of $133,600 in 1993--assets, liabilities, gifts and other material, listed by ranges rather than specific dollar amount.

They show that the House has many millionaires, and that numerous lawmakers hold valuable stock portfolios. Others maintain business interests as diverse as the nation’s economy. Among them is Rep. Elizabeth Furse (D-Ore.), who has holdings worth between $100,000 and $250,000 in a vineyard in her home state.

Other details in the thousands of pages of forms and figures:

* Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) took two expense-paid trips last year. One was provided by the Associated Press, when he spoke at the organization’s annual meeting in Boston.

* House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) was one of several lawmakers making trips to charity golf tournaments, including Bryant Gumbel’s in Orlando, Fla., last March, and the Danny Thompson Memorial in Sun Valley, Ida., in August.