Tom Feeney For Congress || Ethics

Ethics

Dear Central Floridian,

Thank you for visiting my website. If you recently saw my television ad regarding my 2003 trip to Scotland, I'd like to take this opportunity to explain more to you about the trip.

As a freshman representative, I went on a trip to Scotland, based on an invitation to meet governmental dignitaries. I was informed that the trip would be mostly business in nature and my staff contacted the House Ethics Committee prior to agreeing and was told that members had gone on similar trips in the recent past and there were no problems with my accepting.

As soon as I learned that there was concern about the trip and the trip sponsor, I proactively requested an opinion from the House Ethics Committee on how to proceed to ensure that all legal and ethical steps were taken. I immediately followed their direction, and wrote a personal check to the U.S. Treasury for the amount I was told represented my expenses.

For five years, I have been straightforward in repeatedly answering the same questions from reporters, editorial boards and my constituents regarding this trip.

I will tell you without any hesitation that during my 17 years of public service, I have personally followed the law and in no way traded legislative favors for personal gain.

I am saddened and embarrassed to be associated on any level with anyone who abused the public trust. While I wish in retrospect that I'd never been on that trip, I am certain that all facts uncovered will prove that I acted only in accordance with the law.

Throughout my career, I have consistently fought for you and delivered results for our community. This 5-year old story has been an expensive and embarrassing lesson for me, but I have continued to be Central Florida's fighting voice in Congress for lower gas prices, eliminating illegal immigration, supporting our veterans, curbing irresponsible pork spending, and NASA advocacy.

Please see the Ethics Committee Statement and a MY Word to the Sentinel below:

http://ethics.house.gov/News/Read.aspx?ID=99

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-myword0107may01,0,5744264.story?coll=orl-opinion-headlines

OTHER VIEWS MY WORD
Feeney: Let me clarify facts about tripTom Feeney
May 1, 2007
In recent weeks, the media have reported on my association with a high-profile case, and I feel strongly that I need to clarify to my constituency a few brief, but very important facts.
Most important, I say without any hesitation that I have personally followed the law, and during my 16 years of public service, I have in no way ever traded legislative favors for personal gain. Any suggestion otherwise is untrue and incredibly offensive.

In August 2003 I went on a trip to Scotland, based on an invitation to meet governmental dignitaries. I was told that a public-policy group was sponsoring the trip. My staff contacted the House ethics committee prior to my going on the trip and was told that members had gone on similar trips in the recent past.

At the time of the trip, I personally paid for my flight out of Scotland, greens fees and other activities. As soon as I learned that there was concern about the trip and trip sponsor, I took it upon myself to request an opinion from the ethics committee on how to proceed to ensure that all legal and ethical steps were taken by me. I immediately followed their direction, and wrote a personal check to the U.S. Treasury in the only amount that had been reported to my office at the time in association with the trip, as is standard practice. The ethics committee decided to take no action against me.

Investigations into a number of matters continue, and I have been told I am not a target. I am happy to voluntarily provide information to investigators, and I know that the more information they have, the clearer it will become that I followed the law.

While serving as an elected official, I have voted my conscience based on principles that haven't changed. Any suggestion that I have taken legislative action for personal gain or to benefit a lobbyist is an outright lie.

I have said before, and will say again that I am saddened and embarrassed to be associated on any level with anyone who abused the public trust. While I wish in retrospect that I had never been on that trip, I am certain that all facts uncovered will prove that I acted only in accordance with the law.

I take my position and responsibility as your elected representative very seriously, and assure you that my No. 1 goal is to serve my constituency through good public policy and principled representation.

I have represented the interests of the community leaders, businesses, and constituents in my district with the integrity it demands and deserves, and will continue to work toward achieving the goals of our community and serving Central Florida.

U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, an Oviedo Republican, represents the 24th District of Florida
Copyright Â© 2007,Orlando Sentinel
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