All posts tagged "Congressional Aide"

Critics tore into House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after a report revealed one of his top aides planned a luxury-packed European staff trip.

NBC News reported Wednesday that Curt Beaulieu, a senior policy and tax adviser to the speaker, had been authorized to lead a weeklong bipartisan staff delegation to Italy and France in late October. A draft itinerary obtained by the outlet included a Ferrari factory, luxury brand companies in Milan or Florence and day trips to France's Champagne region.

Johnson's office said the trip had been canceled after NBC asked about it, citing an unspecified conflict. The office did not directly say who would have paid for the journey, which was set to take place roughly two weeks before the midterm elections....

A top aide to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had planned a weeklong European trip packed with luxury stops, until reporters started asking questions.

Curt Beaulieu, a senior policy and tax adviser to the speaker, had been authorized to lead a staff delegation to Italy and France in late October, NBC News reported Wednesday, citing a draft itinerary emailed to U.S. Embassy personnel in Rome and Paris. Johnson's office told the outlet the trip had been called off after NBC inquired about the plans.

The proposed schedule had the group stopping at a Ferrari factory near Bologna and a Barilla pasta and cheese processor in Parma before visiting luxury goods companies in Milan or Florence. From there, the delegation would head to France for excursions to the Champagne region and a meeting at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development....

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats want tax hikes to be the first item negotiated in "super committee" deficit-reduction talks, trying to force Republicans to confront an issue at the heart of this year's budget fights, sources told Reuters.