Being a congressman has its perks

Travel can be posh
Four days in Boca Raton: $3,236

By Mark Fischenich
Mankato Free Press, Sunday, June 25, 2006

Congressman Gil Gutknecht concedes that free trips provided to lawmakers sometimes take them to pretty nice places.

But Gutknecht said even those trips are about work as much as pleasure.

“It’s not like you can spend a lot of time on the beach,” the Rochester Republican said.

One trip in January 2004 provided an example of the opulent settings lawmakers sometimes find themselves in.

The International Dairy Foods Association invited Gutknecht, chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees the dairy industry, to its annual convention at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Fla. The association paid $1,107 in travel costs to get him there, $1,085 for lodging, $684 to feed him and $360 for “other costs.” The grand total for bringing Gutknecht to the four-day conference was $3,236.

Covering 356 acres, the wellknown resort describes itself in promotional materials as “a magnificent and private bastion of luxury, elegance and indulgence ... where luxury is defined as the effortless satis faction of every whim.” Gutknecht said he wasn’t there for the amenities — which include a half-mile of private beach, two championship- quality golf courses, 30 tennis courts, the Spa Pallazo, six swimming pools and a 32-slip-marina.

Gutknecht was focused on world trade issues, discussions with producers and conversations with dairy processors, said Jon Yarian, his communications director.

Several Minnesota companies belong to the IDFA, which is made up of ice cream, cheese, milk and other dairy processors.

“It’s critical for him to interact with these folks, to represent Minnesota’s interests, to discuss those issues,” Yarian said.

The dairy industry’s interest in the six-term incumbent is evident beyond the cost-free invitation to Boca Raton. Gutknecht is second among all 535 members of Congress in campaign contributions from the dairy industry — more than $52,000 in the current fundraising period leading up to the 2006 election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which provides an on-line accounting of political donations.

Before he was appointed as chairman of the dairy subcommittee, Gutknecht wasn’t in the top 20 recipients of dairy-industry campaign contributions — receiving just $12,000 for the entire 2002 election cycle.

Gutknecht was asked if he — like many average Minnesotans treated to a trip to a luxurious resort — might feel a debt of gratitude toward the organization providing the free excursion.

“I’m grateful, too,” he said.

But Gutknecht added that he never forgets who he’s representing — the people of the 1st District.

“When I’m at these places,” he said. “I’m generally speaking on their behalf.”