Junketeer

Cass Ballenger, in whose U.S. House district Watauga County has sometimes been and who is not running for reelection this year, shows up as the most accomplished traveler on the public's dime among N.C. congress-people. The Raleigh News & Observer is reporting that Ballenger took three taxpayer-funded overseas trips spanning 28 days in 2003, according to a tally by Roll Call Report Syndicate.

Foreign travel is supposed to improve one's character, if not one's behavior. So much for that adage!