By now, many in the Valley know Congressman Tim Ryan was one of those attending last month's global climate summit in Copenhagen. But Monday night, CBS News dug a little deeper.
Although Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited 20 of her colleagues from the House, the report claims the entourage was so large, it required three military jets at an estimated cost of $168,000, not counting hotel and meal expenses.
We caught up with Ryan Tuesday as he was heading back to Washington. He claimed the trip left little time to waste.
In spite of the tone of the CBS report, Ryan contended lawmakers had a responsibility to attend the conference in force, saying "otherwise America sits at home and the world sets global policy."
Not everyone disagrees, including some local Republican leaders, who think the report misses the point. Mahoning County Republican Party Vice Chair Mark Munroe questioned "why is CBS focusing on the cost of the trip, rather than on the underlying issue of climate change?"
According to the report, delegates, which include about 100 staffers and family, needed three military jets, two 737s and a Gulfstream Five. It said the military jets alone cost over $9,000 each per hour, adding up to about $168,000 for just the flight.
The report said thousands were also spent on commercial travel and over 300 hotel nights were booked, mostly at a five-star hotel.
The report said the summit then failed to deliver a global climate deal.
While Ryan said climate change was a key issue, and so was energy independence. Ryan said he firmly believes taxpayers have every right to expect their money isn't being wasted.
And in this case, at least, he said it wasn't.
To read the report,
click here.
