8th District Illinois Candidate David McSweeney Calls on Congresswoman Melissa Bean to Rimburse "Fee Tavel"

8th District Illinois Candidate David McSweeney Calls on Congresswoman Melissa Bean to Rimburse "Fee Tavel"

Barrington Township: David McSweeney, candidate for Congress in Illinois' 8th Congressional District, is calling on Congresswoman Melissa Bean to reimburse the organizations that have been providing her and her staff with "free travel". McSweeney is also asking Bean to honor her own past campaign stances when she denounced former Congressman Phil Crane for his travel and called him the "Junket King" in at least two campaign mailings sent on Bean's behalf.

"My campaign obtained public documents showing that Melissa Bean and her staff have traveled at the expense of special interests. The irony, or hypocrisy, here is that Melissa Bean relentlessly criticized Phil Crane for his travel and then did it herself. Specifically, the most memorable attack was leveled with regard to Crane's travel to "great destinations". It is ironic that Florida was Melissa Bean's first destination of choice shortly after getting sworn in," said McSweeney.

"I am calling on Melissa Bean and her staff to reimburse those who have provided travel expenses. This is the only way that Melissa Bean can be consistent on this issue. It does not matter whether it was 2 trips, 20 trips, or 200 trips. If you label such trips as "junkets" at election time then they ought to have the same description when you are sworn into office," said McSweeney.

"The people of the 8th District should be respected by whoever represents them in Congress. As a member of Congress I will not accept travel paid for by outside entities and I certainly will not disrespect the voters by telling them one thing and doing another. Melissa Bean's lack of support from some Unions is based on her broken promises. Melissa Bean offered change in 2004 but in 2006 it appears to be more of the same," said McSweeney.

"My message of lower taxes, holding the line on spending, and a strong national defense resonates well in the 8th District. When I am elected to Congress I will not be bogged down with questions about inconsistencies in my past statements or positions on the issues. Instead, I will make myself available to the media and the voters and be a proactive member of Congress," said McSweeney.

http://www.davidmcsweeney.com/news/press_release__june_15.htm