Legistorm congressional update

Legistorm, the research service that provides transparency information regarding congressional staff salaries, financial disclosures and sponsored travel data was updated last month.

Today we’ve posted totals and links regarding the privately sponsored travel that was approved by each member of the Colorado congressional delegation.

“LegiStorm's congressional travel database provides details on 27,904 privately financed trips costing $59.4 million taken by members of Congress and their staff since the beginning of 2000," says the Legistorm website.

“This information was obtained from the disclosure forms members of Congress and their staff are required to file after taking a privately-funded trip. From these disclosures you can learn: Who has accepted free travel; Where they went and the purpose of the trip; How much was spent on transportation lodging, meals and other expenses; And what private organization paid for it all.”

Frequently asked questions can be found right here.

Top traveler amongst the Colorado delegation in dollar amount is 1st CD Rep. Diana DeGette at $63,124 in privately sponsored trips. Number two was the 6th CD’s Rep Tom Tancredo who can in at $56,726. These amounts include staff trips taken on behalf of their congressional office. Neither first nor second spot comes as a shock as both DeGette and Tancredo share the longest tenure of Colorado congressional delegation.

The 7th CD’s Ed Perlmutter comes in last with no reported trips.

The 5th CD’s Doug Lamborn again pops on to the Inside Edge’s radar (and not in a good way) by enjoying the highest average cost per trip at over $8,000.

The lowest average per trip amongst those that took trips was enjoyed by US Senator Ken Salazar at $866.  

Complete table below.

Name                 Trips Taken     Cost                 Average

Ed Permutter        None            $0                    $0

Ken Salazar             5               $4,330             $866

Wayne Allard           3               $9,188             $3,063

Marilyn Musgrave     6               $17,069           $2,845

John Salazar            4               $25,296           $6,324

Doug Lamborn         4               $32,197           $8,049

Mark Udall                7               $42,200           $6,029

Tom Tancredo         16              $56,726           $3,545

Diana Degette        21              $63,124           $3,006