Ohio Valley Politics

A few weeks ago the Columbus Dispatch published a story about Rep. Zack Space’s decision to stay at a less expensive hotel on an upcoming trip to Greece as part of a House delegation after the Dispatch asked about the $400/night rate the planned hotel charges.

This of course prompted the usual response from everyone’s (least) favorite sore loser, Bob Bennet.

“If it smells like a junket and looks like a junket and feels like a junket, it probably is a junket. I want to know how this fact-finding trip benefits the people of the 18th Congressional District when he is on Agriculture, Transportation and Veterans’ Affairs. I don’t know what we can learn from the Greeks about agriculture. … I look forward to his report on how it’s going to impact the 18th District.”

I initially made the decision that I would just let this go and file the stories away until the next time a Republican went somewhere and didn’t stay in an Econolodge. Later on I realized that it would be for the best to just go ahead and show just how much B.S. this story was.

First off, Space was invited on this trip by the  House Foreign Relations Committee specifically because of his Greek Heritage. He’s also been asked by the House Agriculture Committee to examine how Greeks are recovering from the recent fires they’ve had there.

And the hotel decision? Space had nothing to do with it. The hotel selected, Hotel Grande Bretagne, is the first choice for US official delegations visiting Greece. Also recommended are the similarly priced Athens Hilton and the Ledra Marriott.

Space has now agreed to pay all his costs for the trip out of his own pocket (not his campaign cash), something I doubt the two Republicans on the trip are doing.

 Read More: Greek News - Republicans Attack Ohio Congressman Zack Space and His Greek Ancestry

Here’s the trip tentative schedule as announced on November 16th. It’s probably changed since then.

Meetings

U.S. Ambassador to Greece

Members of Greek Foreign Affairs Committee

Prime Minister of Greece

President of Greek Parliament

Greek Minister of Energy

Greek Minister of Defense meeting to discuss the importance of Greek-American cooperation in Iraq

Leaders in the energy sector for a roundtable discussion

U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus

President of Cyprus House of Representatives

President of Republic of Cyprus

Meeting with Cyprus-American Business Association, Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Turkish Cypriot Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism

Meeting with select members of Cypriot Foreign Affairs Committee

Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs

Visits

Tour area of Mt. Parnitha that was destroyed by recent fires with the Greek Minister of Interior to investigate reforestation, agricultural impacts, and recovery efforts in the area.  The House Agriculture Committee gave Congressman Space the specific mandate to investigate this on behalf of the committee.

Tour of historic St. Mamas Greek Orthodox Church, which was refurbished by USAID

United Nations briefing

Tour of Green Line, the dividing line between Greek-Cyprus and the Turkish occupied area of Northern Cyprus.

It’s not like he’s just going to play a round of golf.

Since I already used the “more” tag here’s Space’s remarks on the trip:

“With dramatic reductions in exports from Ohio to Greece and the proliferation of terrorism throughout the world, the United States cannot afford to cut itself off from friends and allies. Greece and Cyprus have long been valued partners both economically and strategically in the war on terror, and, due to my Greek lineage, I believe I am in a unique position to further that relationship. I was honored to be invited to participate in this trip by the Foreign Affairs Committee and look forward to supporting our nation’s interest in the region.

“After Turkey made threats to invade Iraq, the importance of Greece as a strategic military ally has become more valuable in the region, and I will bring an olive branch to leaders of an area of the world that suffers through ongoing conflict.

“Ohio’s exports to Greece were rapidly growing for years, but took a sharp downturn in the last two. I will attempt to determine what happened and how to remedy the situation.”

– Rep. Zack Space