Win Seat in House; score free trip to Israel

Ever wonder why the US Congress does nothing to assist the Palestinians from getting out from under Israeli suppression and obtain a homeland? One answer lies in the "Free trip to Israel" program for freshmen Congressmen, often accompanied by veteran lawmakers desiring lavish chaperone duties. Every August the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) and its front organization, the American Israel Education Foundation (A...IEF) pops for a $10,000 freebee trip for impressionable congressmen, making Israel the No. 1 destination for Congressional 'newbies' and their congressional guides:

•112th Congress 126
•113th Congress 128

That is nearly 30% of the entire House delegation. I don't know which land ranks second but it's certainly not the world's largest open air prison in Gaza. The total going to that forsaken, bomb devastated piece of real estate the Congressmen are influenced to maintain is probably zero. Another benefit to Israel is it helps grease the annual $3 billion giveaway Congress gifts Israel, one of the worlds more prosperous economies, so they can keep buying American firepower. What they use it for is immaterial as long as they keep the munitions makers making more money.

How 'bout in the interest of fairness, Congress passes a rule that any Congressman taking such a perk be required to embark on a weekend fact finding trip to Gaza. We should even have Congress pay for it. Why put a financial burden on folks getting by with just a quarter million dollar annual pay and benefit package?