Which NJ congressmen received the most in ‘free’ trips in 2018? – Asbury Park Press

Nothing bridges partisan divides like an all-expense paid trip Paris. 

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from Wyckoff who represents the state’s Fifth District, which stretches across the northern border of New Jersey, saw a November trip to France as a way “to engage both Democratic and Republican colleagues on critical policy matters, including NATO, ISIS and combating terrorism,” according to a disclosure form he filed for a $11,000 trip paid for by private groups. 

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., whose Eighth District includes parts of Hudson, Bergen, Essex and Union counties, was also on the trip funded by The Ripon Society and the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange. Pascrell’s goals for the trip: to discuss tax, trade and health, according to his disclosure form. 

In all, New Jersey’s federal lawmakers and staffers they oversee during 2018 took more than $104,000 worth of “gift travel,” trips paid for by non-government organizations. Federal rules and laws require both U.S. representatives and senators as well as their staff to disclose their travel.

Here’s a look at gift travel in 2018 associated with New Jersey’s federal lawmakers. In some cases, the staffers don’t work for the lawmaker directly, but for committees of which the lawmaker is a leader. 

Sen. Bob Menendez

Menendez, D: No trips
Staff: Four trips totaling $7,094
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to place on a $3,915 trip to Ukraine paid for by Atlantic Council. The eight-day trip was a study trip to meet with members of the Ukraine government, opposition parties, civil society and private sector.

Sen. Cory Booker

Booker, D: No trips
Staff: Three trips totaling $9,535
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to place on a $5,488 trip to Zambia paid for by Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere. The seven-day trip was to see the impact of U.S. foreign assistance on health and development.

Rep. Donald Norcross

Norcross, D: Two trips totaling $8,232
Staff: Two trips totaling $1,186
Most expensive trip: Norcross and his wife traveled to Vancouver on a $7,470 trip paid for by the Aspen Institute, Henry Luce Foundation, Democracy Fund and Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The five days of the trip funded by the organizations was for a conference on was about energy policy. Norcross personally paid to add three days to the trip.

Rep. Frank LoBiondo

LoBiondo, R: No trips
Staff: Five trips totaling $3,669
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to Las Vegas for three days on a $1,300 trip paid for by National Association of Broadcasters. The trip was to attend the NAB Show and radio tour with the goal of learn about new technologies, including drone technology. LoBiondo, whose Second District includes part of southern Ocean County, retired at the end of the last Congress.

Rep. Tom MacArthur

MacArthur, R: No trip
Staff: Three trips totaling $6,815
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to Mozambique on a $5,582 trip paid for by World Vision International, RESULTS Educational Fund and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The eight-day trip was about maternal and child health investments in foreign policy. MacArthur was defeated in November by Andy Kim for the Third District seat, which includes parts of Ocean and Burlington counties.

Rep. Chris Smith

Smith, R: No trip
Staff: No trips

Rep. Josh Gottheimer

Gottheimer, D: One trip totaling $10,452
Staff: Five trips totaling $11,071. 
Most expensive trip: Gottheimer and his wife to Paris on a $10,452 trip paid for by Ripon Society and the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange. The six-day trip was about enhancing international relations and discussing policy issues between the United States and France. The trip included attending the ceremonies surrounding the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Rep. Frank Pallone

Pallone, D: No trips
Staff: Nine trips totaling $13,579. The staffers work for the Energy and Commerce Committee, but not Pallone’s district office. Pallone signed off on the trips because he was the committee’s ranking minority member. 
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to London on a $2,944 trip paid for by R Street Institute and DrugScience. The six-day trip was about harm-reduction research related to tobacco. Pallone’s Sixth District stretches along the coast of Monmouth County into Middlesex County.

Rep. Leonard Lance

Lance, R: No trips. 
Staff: Seven trips totaling $7,224
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to London on a $2,960 trip paid for by R Street Institute and DrugScience. The six-day trip was about tobacco harm reduction strategies. Lance lost his bid for re-election to Tom Malinowski.

Rep. Albio Sires

Sires, D: No trip
Staff: No trips

Rep. Bill Pascrell

Pascrell, D: One trip totaling $11,369
Staff: No trips
Most expensive trip: Pascrell and his wife traveled to Paris on a $11,369 trip paid for by the Ripon Society and the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange. The six-day trip was about enhancing international relations and discussing policy issues between the United States and France. The trip included attending the ceremonies surrounding the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Rep. Donald M. Payne

Payne, D: One trip totaling $2,500
Staff: Two trips totaling $5,050 
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to Puerto Rico on a $2,549 trip paid for by U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress. 

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen

Frelinghuysen, R: No trips
Staff: Five trips totaling $3,482
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to Standford University on a $1,097 trip paid for by the university. The three-day trip was to meet with policy experts at Hoover Institution. Frelinghuysen retired after the last Congress.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Watson Coleman, D: One trip totaling $644
Staff: Two trips totaling $2,113. 
Most expensive trip: A staffer traveled to Las Vegas on a $1,351 trip paid for by National Association of Broadcasters. The three-day trip was to attend the NAB Show and radio tour. 

Susanne Cervenka: @scervenka; 732-643-4229; scervenka@gannettnj.com

 

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