February 8, 2005

GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME AND THEM, NOT FOR YOU:

Reid to embark on South America trip (Tony Batt, 3/30/99, Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., will leave Sunday for a weeklong trip to South America to discuss economic and trade issues with the leaders of Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

Congress has recessed for two weeks, and Reid is spending the first week in Nevada before departing for South America.

He will join Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., as well as Sens. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

"South America has been somewhat ignored by this country, yet Brazil has one of the largest economies in the world," Reid said.

"We're trying hard to develop better trade relations with Argentina, and we're visiting Chile because it is doing interesting things in Social Security and other parts of its free market system," he said.

Taxpayers will pay for the trip. Reid, the Senate minority whip, said the trip is part of his responsibility as a senator and a member of leadership.


So we pay for the Senator's personal retirement savings acccount and forhis junkets to see how well they're working in even trhe Third World, but he won't let the rest of us have them?

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 8, 2005 6:36 AM
Comments

Guess what little annual event is being held in right now in Brazil? Guess what percentage of the public and private sector people Reid et al could wish to meet will be out for, say, the next twoo weeks?

Posted by: Moe from NC at February 8, 2005 9:39 AM

We don't pay into any Senator's private savings account. This is just an urban myth. They have a 401(k) program that's pretty average.

This criticism is a cheap shot. Is it better to have leaders who brag about not owning passports and knowing very little about our allies and competitors? I think there are one or two GOP Senators that fit that description.

Brazil is the biggest economy in South America. We're in the final year of negotiating a hemisphere-wide free trade agreement. It is run by a lefty former union head who has been remarkably flexible in working with the IMF and WTO. Tell me why it's a bad thing for Senators to go there? That makes no sense.

Posted by: Drew at February 8, 2005 10:02 AM

Drew:

You do know what a 401k is, right?

Posted by: oj at February 8, 2005 10:10 AM

Let me see, if I get this straight, the Senator from Vegas, goes to South America on a 'fact finding tour. . .get me Fredo and Tommy Olla,
wasn't there an episode of Crime Story, just like
this

Posted by: narciso at February 8, 2005 10:15 AM

The Republic is never safer than when Congress is in recess. The problem I have with Reid and friends junketing off to Latin America is that they are planning to return.

Posted by: Bart at February 8, 2005 12:01 PM

Let's hope he brings up Lulu's reactor situation.

Posted by: Sandy P at February 8, 2005 1:07 PM

That's ex-Senator Campbell, R-Colo. Or do they mean Senator Salazar, D-Color?

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at February 8, 2005 1:25 PM

Why is this story from 1999 relevant now?

Posted by: Athena at February 8, 2005 5:02 PM

Athena:

Because he was pro-private accounts if Bill Clinton wanted them but now he's discovered they're immoral.

Posted by: oj at February 8, 2005 5:33 PM

D'oh! I didn't even see the dateline. Except for the detalis, these stories all blend together. No wonder people like Reid don't want people dredging up their past.

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at February 8, 2005 5:57 PM

What are Daschle and Nighthorse Campbell doing on this trip and are they paying their own way?

I do hope that Reid is not negotiating for the country while there as he is not the President or the Secretary of State. That didn't stop JF'n Kerry but he thinks he is special anyway.

Posted by: dick at February 8, 2005 7:35 PM
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