OK, fans of transparency, government efficiency, responsible Congressional representation., read how Congressman Jim Baird and his wife are taking advantage of the office a majority of poorly informed voters helped put before them. Here is a selection from the Indiana Capital Chronicle about the extensive travel Congressman Baird and Mrs. Baird have done "ostensibly for the benefit of who exactly?"
1. 5 days in Bellagio, Italy.
2. Congressman Baird has taken ten trips in five years including all of the following:
Israel, United Kingdom, Kenya, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Colombia, Ireland, Spain and now Italy.
BAIRD’S 5-STAR TRAVEL IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This is via an account published in the Indiana Capital Chronicle: “Indiana’s representatives saw little expense spared during international trips paid for with special interest groups’ money. Members of Indiana’s U.S. House of Representatives delegation and their staffers have accepted roughly $640,000 in privately sponsored international travel since 2020, an Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism analysis of travel disclosures found. Six current and former representatives took 26 international trips in those five years, according to congressional travel disclosures, and sent staff members on nine global getaways. Representatives and their staffers took over 138 domestic and international trips sponsored by private organizations for a total cost of over $760,000.”
Among them, this accounting for U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, the Greencastle Republican who represents Tippecanoe County and the rest of Indiana’s 4th District: “U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, R-4th, and his wife enjoyed a five-day retreat on Lake Como in Bellagio, Italy, in April 2023. … Baird traveled the most internationally among Indiana’s representatives, taking 10 trips in five years to Israel, United Kingdom, Kenya, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Colombia, Ireland, Spain and Italy, costing $201,133.”
As much attention as I pay to political news, I was unaware of this. I can’t be the only one. Good to get the word out (along with legislative voting records), and keep it out there as 2026 elections approach.
"Representative" Baird is also an election denier. I do not know whether Baird has held any town hall meetings. He deserves to have a strong opponent in a Republican Primary and, if necessary, a strong Democratic opponent. Baird is almost as bad as former Congressman Steve Buyer was.
Influence peddling is nothing new, but now Congress seems to exist only to rubber-stamp Trump family grifting, that is, it lacks influence. Are the lobbyists getting good value for their Lake Como junkets?
OK, fans of transparency, government efficiency, responsible Congressional representation., read how Congressman Jim Baird and his wife are taking advantage of the office a majority of poorly informed voters helped put before them. Here is a selection from the Indiana Capital Chronicle about the extensive travel Congressman Baird and Mrs. Baird have done "ostensibly for the benefit of who exactly?"
1. 5 days in Bellagio, Italy.
2. Congressman Baird has taken ten trips in five years including all of the following:
Israel, United Kingdom, Kenya, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Colombia, Ireland, Spain and now Italy.
BAIRD’S 5-STAR TRAVEL IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This is via an account published in the Indiana Capital Chronicle: “Indiana’s representatives saw little expense spared during international trips paid for with special interest groups’ money. Members of Indiana’s U.S. House of Representatives delegation and their staffers have accepted roughly $640,000 in privately sponsored international travel since 2020, an Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism analysis of travel disclosures found. Six current and former representatives took 26 international trips in those five years, according to congressional travel disclosures, and sent staff members on nine global getaways. Representatives and their staffers took over 138 domestic and international trips sponsored by private organizations for a total cost of over $760,000.”
Among them, this accounting for U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, the Greencastle Republican who represents Tippecanoe County and the rest of Indiana’s 4th District: “U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, R-4th, and his wife enjoyed a five-day retreat on Lake Como in Bellagio, Italy, in April 2023. … Baird traveled the most internationally among Indiana’s representatives, taking 10 trips in five years to Israel, United Kingdom, Kenya, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Colombia, Ireland, Spain and Italy, costing $201,133.”
As much attention as I pay to political news, I was unaware of this. I can’t be the only one. Good to get the word out (along with legislative voting records), and keep it out there as 2026 elections approach.
Plus, the $600 daily food bill in Italy. Same guy who voted to cut SNAP/food stamps. Gross.
"Representative" Baird is also an election denier. I do not know whether Baird has held any town hall meetings. He deserves to have a strong opponent in a Republican Primary and, if necessary, a strong Democratic opponent. Baird is almost as bad as former Congressman Steve Buyer was.
Re: MAGAt Mike and Agra-Welfare Queen Baird.
Since MAGAt Mike is such a successful businessman, hopefully,
he's charging the same fees for the 1,000 prison beds that Mad King Darn'old Drumpf of Dementia-Felonia charges the Secret Service at Mar-A-Lago.
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It seems MAGAt Baird is not satisfied setting his Agra-Welfare entitlement along with his fellow ReTrumplican't sychophants.
So, he had to do his own fact finding in the world-reknown Italian farming district of Lake Como.
Amazing that such a "man of the people" can travel the world, but not make it to constituent forums in his district.
I love these days when we get the sampler platter. Enjoy the ride!
Influence peddling is nothing new, but now Congress seems to exist only to rubber-stamp Trump family grifting, that is, it lacks influence. Are the lobbyists getting good value for their Lake Como junkets?