From Italy to the Galapagos: Where Does Our Tax Money Really Go?

With the Democratic majority in Congress, we in the Republican Party have become quite disgruntled with the impending tax increases coming our way. The Obama Administration is attempting to lull our conservative outcries with promises such as creating the “perfect” health care system, ending global warming, and solving unemployment. So how else is our tax money being spent? The Wall Street Journal gets to the bottom of what Obama fails to mention when we ask him this very question.

Okay, so the Obama Administration tells us our tax money is funding research on global warming. Fine. We then find out that this research is conducted on the Galapagos Islands. Well, this is getting a little fishy, but could still be legitimate. So who exactly is performing this research? Five lawmakers and their families. And how are they performing this research that will save the earth from global warming? Simple- by touring giant tortoise centers, hiking along lava trails, swimming with the marine iguanas, boating in search of white-tip sharks, and shopping at quaint boutiques. Wow Obama, if only we had always known the solution was this easy!

The Wall Street Journal reports that this four-day research-disguised vacation racked up $22,000 for meals and hotels alone. A taxpayer-funded trip like this is not unusual. “In February, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a delegation of Democratic lawmakers to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan for a day. Before landing in Kabul, the eight lawmakers and their entourage of spouses and aides spent eight days in Italy, spending $57,697 on hotels and meals.”

Taxpayer-financed trips are becoming overwhelmingly prevalent. The money spent on these excursions has been subjected to an astounding “50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago.” In fact, taxpayer-funded travel now entices potential government candidates as it has become “a big and growing perk for lawmakers and their families.” No wonder the Democrats in Congress are fighting to further increase our taxes!