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Thursday, June 26, 1997

House committee approves new travel rules

By CHIP BROWN / Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - Spurred by reports that lawmakers were failing to use cost-saving measures for travel, the House Administration Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved new rules regarding travel reimbursement.

"The rules are going to standardize things, and, in most cases, result in a cost savings," said Rep. Tony Goolsby, R-Dallas, chairman of the committee, which voted 8-0 to approve the rules.

Among the major changes, House members will be required to either obtain a special credit card that will entitle them to state contracted prices for airfare and rental car services, or use a central travel agency selected to handle House travel.

Currently, House members can book their own travel with any travel agent and submit a receipt for reimbursement.

Booking air travel by using the state-approved credit card and receiving the state-contracted rates will result in a savings of up to 62 percent from what is currently being paid for House air travel, said Steve Adrian, executive director of the House Business Office.

"This will provide for consistency," said Adrian, who headed the effort to write the new rules. "It's more economical and the rules will be easier to enforce."

The Austin American-Statesman reported in June that many lawmakers - both House and Senate members - weren't taking advantage of money-saving measures, such as booking travel plans early and discounted fares.

In 1995 and 1996, taxpayers spent more than $365,000 to send 108 legislators and the lieutenant governor on 351 trips to out-of-state conferences, the newspaper reported.

One lawmaker, Rep. Nancy Moffat, R-Southlake, spent more than $17,000 over two years on trips to conferences she said helped her become more knowledgeable about legislation being considered.

Suzy Woodford, state director of the government watchdog group Common Cause, said the new rules would help.

"This shows the House members are serious about saving the taxpayers' money," Ms. Woodford said. "We are concerned about improprieties and the appearance of abuse, taking advantage of taxpayers by staying at the most expensive hotels and things like that."

Goolsby said the rules would take effect as soon as House members can be advised of them.

Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, chairman of the Senate Administration Committee that oversees senators' spending, has said new Senate travel rules, approved last month in a closed-doors meeting, will take effect in mid-July.

Harris has declined to discuss details of the new Senate rules. He didn't immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press Wednesday.

Other key provisions of the new House rules will:

- Limit rental car reimbursement to $50 per day. Previously, there was no limit.

- Prohibit reimbursement for any lodging or meals incurred to or from an out-of-state conference attended by those who use their own cars.

- Reimburse the lesser of the state mileage rate - 28 cents per mile - or the lowest coach airfare available for an out-of-state trip taken by lawmakers who drive their own cars. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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