I understand that the most effective way to do my job as your United States senator is to listen to the concerns of the people I represent. A senator’s work is not done sitting behind a desk in Washington, a philosophy I have embraced since the beginning of my Senate term.
In last election, the American people clearly showed that they wanted meaningful, long-term reform to restore the credibility of our political institutions. On September 14, 2007, the President signed into law the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-81). This legislation will make our work in Washington more transparent and accountable so the American people can get a complete picture of how we get the information that helps us do our jobs.
I have always believed that sunlight is the best disinfectant, which is why I was the first in the Senate to post my complete Senate travel records on my website (Link to a current list of my travel around the country and abroad). While these trips have already been reported as required by Senate rules, I want to ensure that my records are as easily accessible as possible, in the interest of full and complete disclosure. In fact, beginning January 1, 2008 this is a standard that every member of Congress will be held to, under my amendment to the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, among other things, also prohibits senators and staff from accepting gifts and meals from registered lobbyists or entities that employ or retain lobbyists. Senators are restricted from any lobbying activities for 2 years after leaving the Senate and prohibited from negotiating for private-sector lobbying jobs while they are sitting members of Congress. Additionally, the legislation revokes floor privileges and the use of the Members’ exercise facilities and parking for former senators, officers of the Senate, and Speakers of the House who become registered lobbyists. Members of Congress who are convicted of bribery, perjury, conspiracy, or other related crimes while in office now will be denied Congressional retirement benefits.
With regard to Congressional travel, I want to be clear that I have never taken nor do I support travel paid for by lobbyists. In that vein, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 prohibits senators and staff from accepting private travel from registered lobbyists and entities that employ or retain lobbyists, and prohibits lobbyists from organizing or participating in travel by Senators or staff. However the legislation continues to allow, with pre-approval from the Senate Ethics Committee, one-day travel by for-profit groups for the purpose of speaking engagements, meetings, or similar educational events; or travel paid for by 501(c) (3) non-profit organizations.
TRANSPARENCY IN TRAVEL
Increasing government transparency and rooting out government waste are major priorities for me in the Senate. As Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I have worked hard to shed light on waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. Under my leadership, the Subcommittee has identified over $12 billion in waste, fraud or abuse in the federal government (Link to a chart of waste, fraud, and abuse exposed by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations).
The majority of my travel has taken place right at home in Minnesota. I am proud to say that, in my first four years in the Senate, my staff and I have combined to visit all 853 Minnesota cities – whether large or small, metro or rural, on or off the main highway. Click here to see my visit to the city of Winnebago—the last city on my tour around Minnesota. In addition, I visited all 87 Minnesota counties in 2006 and will do so again this year. I am proud to have met with so many Minnesotans to discuss their concerns face-to-face. Over the next year, I look forward to continuing to speak with and listen to Minnesotans as frequently as possible.
A senator’s job also requires reaching out to people across the United States in order to gather support for Minnesota’s priorities and deal with national issues. My job as senator also requires that I travel abroad from time to time. In particular, my committee assignments and oversight responsibilities demand that I travel to certain places around the world. For example, my duties as Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations have included oversight trips to ports in the United States and Hong Kong to evaluate port security, economic opportunities for Minnesota companies and potential vulnerabilities as a result of smuggled weapons of mass destruction. (Link to a case study of a typical fact-finding official Senate trip to Brazil).
Also, as a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, I have traveled to Iraq four times to visit our troops and see the progress of our rebuilding efforts firsthand.
Below you will find some of the common questions and concerns about travel and the legislative process that Minnesotans have asked and what will be allowed now that we have passed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007:
What is the purpose of Congressional travel?
Congressional travel serves a critical public policy purpose. It enables members of Congress to gather first hand information about vital public policy matters. Travel also allows members of Congress to meet with groups and organizations that have a legitimate interest in learning about initiatives or issues the member will be asked to vote on, and has significant importance to the member’s home state and its priorities.
For Minnesota, the policy-driven trips I have taken have also helped me build key relationships with my colleagues and have paved the way for several Senate successes, including increased low income heating assistance, support for rural infrastructure projects, helping Minnesota National Guard members deal with their long deployment in Iraq, and assistance for sugar farmers.
What is privately paid travel?
Let me first say what it is not. It is not travel paid for by lobbyists. Non-taxpayer-funded travel is paid for by associations or specific industries for the purpose of educating members on specific issues, legislation, and important projects. By raising awareness of issues and building networks of support among other legislators and organizations, a Congressional member can be effective in gaining support for key initiatives. Additionally, all privately paid travel must be pre-approved by the Senate Ethics Committee.
Have you taken non-taxpayer funded trips?
Yes. I have taken non-taxpayer funded trips that are important to official Senate business and Minnesota’s priorities. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Ranking Republican on two major subcommittees, it is vitally important for me to meet with foreign leaders and my legislative counterparts to discuss issues that are critical to national and international policy. To be an effective senator for Minnesota, it is essential for me to participate in both the foreign and domestic arena.
For example, I took part in a 2004 conference in Barcelona on political Islam hosted by the Aspen Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that seeks to educate policy makers through conferences with internationally recognized academics, experts and leaders. This conference was an important opportunity for my colleagues and me to learn from some of the world’s foremost experts on Islam, and engage in in-depth discussions that would be difficult, if not impossible, to replicate during our busy Washington schedule.
I also want to stress that I do not believe that taxpayers should have to pay for every trip that a member of Congress takes. There are legitimate and worthwhile organizations that have legitimate reasons to meet with, and hear from, members of Congress. It is only appropriate that those organizations cover the expenses of that travel. Obviously, it is important that this information is reported to ensure that the public is aware of the purpose of the travel, and who covered the costs of the travel. (Link to information on organizations sponsoring non-taxpayer funded travel).
What are the new rules regarding travel that passed as part of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007?
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 prohibits travel for members and staff from entities that retain or employ lobbyists. There is a 1-day or 2-day trip exemption if there is pre-approval from the Ethics Committee. Additionally 501 (c) (3) organizations pre-approved by the Ethics Committee are still permitted to provide educational trips. The bill requires members and staff traveling on corporate jets to pay their share of the full charter rate rather than the equivalent of a first-class ticket.
I am very sensitive to the ethical concerns being raised about travel in Washington. It is important to understand that none of my trips were paid for by lobbyists. I always ensure that all of my travel adheres to ethical standards. Disclosure rules exist to ensure accountability for these trips. All of my trips were for Senate business and were reported. (Link to a standard disclosure form for non taxpayer-funded travel).
Are lobbyists a problem?
While I am troubled by the increasing number of lobbyists in Washington, I am not one who is going to suggest that all lobbyists are evil or unethical. As with any profession, there are a small number of individuals who abuse the system.
By and large, however, the lobbyists that I work with are outstanding individuals who are committed to their work. Lobbyists represent unions, teachers, health care professionals, the mentally ill, seniors, women, and children – people just like you and me.
My staff and I receive critically important information from lobbyists. And, in more cases than not, lobbyists are experts in their particular area and are hard-working and honest – again, people just like you and me: farmers, those suffering from chemical dependency, businessmen and women, and others.
What is an “earmark”?
An earmark is designated funding that has been directed to a certain region or city or state for projects or other important programs that serve the public interest. Some people have called earmarks “pork barrel” politics.
Under the Constitution, however, Congress was granted the “power of the purse.” Through earmarks Congress has a particular say about exactly where federal dollars are spent. Members of Congress often work with their colleagues to see that key projects receive earmarks as bills work their way through the legislative process.
The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 requires any legislation with earmarks to clearly list the sponsors of those items and a statement of earmark’s purposes, even if an earmark does not directly name the entity that will benefit or if the earmark takes the form of a tax or tariff benefit. Members of Congress requesting such earmarks must also certify that they have no personal financial interest in the project.
2009 Appropriations Request
Click to view Senator Coleman’s Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations requests. These are the requests made by Senator Coleman at the request of his constituents. It is up to Senate Committees to approve funding projects.