Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) has been around Washington a long time now and apparently it is getting to him. Being in the minority must be a drag to someone that is obsessed with power such as Dan. So instead of working for his constituents and representing them in Congress, he chose to go golfing for an entire week down in Palm Springs for the Bob Hope Pro-Am.
Rawstory picked this up via RollCall:
Ben Pershing writes in today's 'Heard on the Hill' column that Burton missed 19 House votes over four days in order to play in a 'Pro-Am' charity golf game. The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Springs, CA, was played on four golf courses over four days.
Burton has played in the event on several occasions over the years. Pershing reveals that the Indiana Republican even scheduled a 'field hearing' of a House Committee in Los Angeles the same week as the Bob Hope Classic in 2000. Pointing to a report in an Indiana newspaper, the Roll Call article also suggests that Burton may have used campaign funds to pay for the $12,000 entry fee in the charity game.
When he abandoned the people's business last month, he managed to get his cards in order. Scheduling a 'field hearing'? Making sure campaign funds paid for the trip? Dan really knows how to look like a scum-sucking, corrupted Congressman. Ah, the things we learn in Washington. Oh, and by the way, does this make you wonder if you could skip work for a week and go play golf?
Ben Pershing at RollCall did (subscription only):
And really, why should they? Why should an elected official like Burton have to explain his whereabouts to anyone? So what if he just decided not to go to work for a week? Can’t you do that at your job? How important was it really to vote on stem-cell research funding, the minimum wage or energy policy when he had the chance to play golf with celebrities such as Yogi Berra, George Lopez, Michael Bolton, Huey Lewis and Maury Povich? This whole story is working HOH into a Lou Dobbs-style populist lather.
The people that need this to be explained to are his constituents back in Indiana's 5th district. The only trips Mr. Burton should be taking are to his district to hear about their concerns and matters strictly related to the business of the Congress. If you are going to play golf for a week straight and not be held accountable for it, you should do that while being unemployed. Here's to Burton' unemployment in 2008!
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