Senators’ investigative report suggests Brand USA is using tax dollars to party

Skift Take

The Republican senators are making big claims based off limited documentation, even though when broken down the board members’ travel expenses look like standard business travel rates.

Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) released an investigative report on Brand USA, the government-sponsored travel promotion agency, on Thursday and found inappropriate activity.

The new report examined documents that showed questionable accounting, lavish spending and lobbying violations. The report found that top officials threw parties in London and enjoyed luxury baseball suites courtesy of taxpayer-funded Amtrak and violated other lobbying rules.

“It is immoral to ask the federal government to shell out $100 million every year to pay for high ranking executives to enjoy parties in London and luxury suites at major league baseball games in the name of ‘travel promotion,’ " Coburn said Thursday.

[gview file="http://thehill.com/images/stories/blogs/flooraction/jan2012/usabrandreport.pdf"]

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Senators’ investigative report suggests Brand USA is using tax dollars to party

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U.S. National Parks Had a Record Year. But There’s ‘No Public Announcement’ and Staffing Shortages

First read is on us.
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First read is on us.

Senators’ investigative report suggests Brand USA is using tax dollars to party

Skift Take

Up Next

How Data Quality Issues Impact Global Hospitality Operations

Religious Tourism: The Indian Travel Industry’s Next Big Bet

6 Travel Startups Raise $168 Million Over 2 Weeks: Funding Roundup

Vrbo Needles Airbnb in New Campaign: We're 'Hotter' and 'Cooler'

U.S. National Parks Had a Record Year. But There’s ‘No Public Announcement’ and Staffing Shortages

First read is on us.Subscribe to read more essential travel industry news.

First read is on us.
Subscribe to read more essential travel industry news.