Rep. Congress can't travel to Gulf

Transparency in the Capital.

The travel would appear to be to in the category of "general oversight" into an issue in which several committees have already been authorized for member visits to the Gulf Coast, said Kyle Anderson, spokesman for House Administration Committee Chairman Robert Brady, D-Pa. Such trips, Brady said, are "not eligible for payment from the financial accounts" that finance members' offices.

Brady's committee decides on whether to allow congressional funding of trips.

Scalise said he was surprised that the House administration panel would deny compensation for a trip designed to help members understand the issues related to the Gulf disaster, especially given that they soon will vote on spill-related legislation.