Thompson #2 Traveler

According to a Detroit newspaper, U.S. Rep. John Conyers' campaign committee spent the most on travel and transportation in the first three months of 2009. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, Chairman of Vacation Security, came in second.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers' campaign committee spent more on travel and transportation in the first three months of 2009 than other senior members of Congress, a newspaper reported Thursday.

The Detroit News said the Detroit Democrat's campaign spent nearly $46,000 on travel, transportation and lodging. That's nearly double the amount spent by any of the other 60-plus members of Congress reviewed by the newspaper including House leadership, committee chairs, ranking Republicans and members of Michigan's delegation.

The Conyers committee also bought $14,000 worth of tickets for this year's Super Bowl held in Tampa, Fla.

Conyers is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. His campaign said every item was a legitimate campaign expense.

Federal Election Commission rules give wide latitude on how candidates' campaigns can spend money donated by political contributors, and the newspaper said there is no proof of wrongdoing in Conyers' financial report.

Campaigns can pay for campaign-related trips by the candidate, staff, spouses and dependent children. Campaign money also can pay for travel related to a candidate's role as a federal officeholder.

The rules bar spending on personal travel such as vacations or for expenses that a candidate would incur even if not an officeholder.

But the newspaper said the spending raises questions about whether the Conyers' campaign is mixing campaign and personal affairs, particularly with the Super Bowl trip.

"That's something people might be inclined to see as personal use in the guise of official duties," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money and influence in government.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi and the House Homeland Security Committee chairman, spent about $23,000 on travel and transportation during the first three months of 2009 to finish second on the list of those surveyed.

The newspaper analyzed Federal Election Commission data to come up with the list.

Will the Clarion Ledger do a similar analysis?