Globetrotter Gwen Moore

As a member of the U.S. Congress, what has Gwen Moore accomplished in Washington?

I know she co-sponsored H. Res. 635.

I guess it would be wrong to criticize Moore for not getting much done in D.C. She's not there all that much. Moore spends lots of time on the road, often at the expense of taxpayers.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Two words for Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore: frequent flier.

During the past five months, Moore has traveled at taxpayer expense to 12 foreign countries, one of them, Liberia, twice.

Moore, 56, a Democrat, entered the House in 2005.

She's made four overseas trips since April, taking in Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Morocco and Uganda in Africa; Belgium, England, Spain and the Ukraine in Europe; and Egypt, Israel and Lebanon in the Middle East.

Moore sits on the House Financial Services Committee and the Small Business Committee.

The Journal Sentinel examined reports on trips taken by the Wisconsin congressional delegation dating to 2006. The delegation tallied:

• Expenses totaling at least $174,177

• 23 foreign trips

• 11 domestic trips

• About three dozen foreign countries visited, some more than once

Moore's travels this spring and summer outpaced even those of Jim Sensenbrenner, the House Republican from Menomonee Falls whose name generally shows up high on overall lists of congressional globe-trotters.

...Moore also declined a request for an interview about her travel, but issued a statement saying:

"My congressional trips here and abroad help me to better understand the issues affecting our country so that I can more effectively represent my constituents in Congress. I believe that to be an effective leader I must not put on the blinders that so many in Washington wear, but instead learn first-hand about critical global and domestic issues."

Give me a break!

Blinders?

What is she talking about?

She has blinders when it comes to her son Sowande Omokunde. She didn't know that he was part of an effort to disenfranchise Milwaukee Republican voters.

She doesn't have to travel abroad to help her better understand that issue. She merely has to go home.

Since April, she's been to Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Morocco, Uganda, Belgium, England, Spain, the Ukraine, Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon.

That's a lot of travel.

Moore should let her constituents know what she learned on her travels that enables her to better represent them.

She should write papers: "What I did on my trip to Ghana," "What I did on my trip to Spain," etc.

Moore should offer constituents specifics. The blinders crap is way too vague.

Moore's trips during the two years have cost $8,912, and the expenses of two have yet to be reported.

While Moore's official trips this year have been to foreign destinations, her trips in 2006 - and there were five - were domestic. Her party did not control Congress then.

Her trips closer to home were to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Boston; Denver; and New York City (twice). All in 2006 were underwritten by outside entities.

So once the Dems took control, Moore's travel itinerary became more extravagant.

Interesting.

Like Moore, most of Wisconsin's federal lawmakers went abroad during the past 20 months. Only two chose not to go overseas on congressional business: Sen. Herb Kohl and Rep. Steve Kagen of Appleton, both Democrats. Kagen is a first-term lawmaker whose seat Republicans hope to regain.

I don't have a problem with lawmakers going on trips.

I have a problem when the travel becomes excessive.

Moore's travel seems to be excessive.

I think it's hilarious that Kohl didn't go overseas to do any congressional business, but he just got back from China to carry out personal negotiations with representatives of Yi Jianlian.

Actually, it's not hilarious. It's pathetic.

Way to serve the people!

Does Kohl put the future of the Bucks ahead of the future of the country? Yes.

And Kagen, who knows what motivates him?

Maybe he's afraid to fly. He did promise to personally take out terrorists aboard planes.

Remember?

During a debate with John Gard, Kagen said:

The enemies are intent on destroying America. They're intent on hurting us, killing us. We are their evil one, but let's understand who the real enemy can become if we become too fearful.

I'm... I'm not afraid. I'll put my foot down and stand up if I'm on a plane with a terrorist – I’ll take him out right there.

We need leaders that are tough. We need leaders that are smart. Unfortunately, we've got the tough part right. We just don't have the smart part.

It's best that Kagen not travel. He could cause an international incident.

...Feingold made four foreign trips in the period reviewed: two to Africa, one to Asia and one to the Middle East. He is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chairs its African Affairs Subcommittee and sits on its East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee. He also sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Feingold, in a statement defending his trips, says his priority was "working to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and abroad." He said the trips gave him a chance to examine places with groups sympathetic to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists; places in need of strengthened democratic institutions; and places crippled by violence for decades.

Feingold spent so much time on the road during his failed campaign for the presidency that I'm surprised he had time to squeeze in some trips out of the country.

If Feingold wants to examine places crippled by violence, he should visit Milwaukee, Gwen Moore's district.