[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Redux

I think the intineraries are not made public in advance for security reasons.

I meant after the fact. As long as members know that they will be scrutinized by the public, that should cut down on abuse.

Palin did not seem to realize that her baggage (pardon the pun) would become public when she sought a national seat.

http://a.abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory?id=6084575

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is allowed to charge taxpayers for her children's commercial airline tickets because they represent the state wherever they go with her, the governor's aides said Wednesday.
"There's an expectation that the First Family participates in community activities," said Sharon Leighow, the governor's spokeswoman. "They are representing the First Family and the state of Alaska."


Leighow and other Palin supporters defended the GOP vice presidential candidate's use of $21,012 in state money to pay for her three daughters' flights, after The Associated Press reported the practice on Tuesday. The AP reported that often the children were not invited to the events the governor attended, but she brought them anyway and charged the government.

Maybe first families do get an exemption. I guess it depends if the family is involved in events or not. I wouldn't think that Obama would bring his wife and kids to tour NATO.