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发帖数: 61690 | 1 Vice President Biden and several top White House officials have vacationed
with their families at the same log cabin in Grand Teton National Park.
Located on Jackson Lake, the rustic getaway is the perfect escape from the
fast-paced Washington grind.
The cabin also happens to be owned by the federal government, and was banned
20-some years ago by the National Park Service for anything other than “
official use.”
Some great reporting by Time’s Zeke Miller has prompted the Interior
Department to ask for an investigation into Biden’s stay, as well as uses
of the cabin by several Obama cabinet secretaries, such as Education
Secretary Arne Duncan and former transportation secretary Ray LaHood.
Government officials, including Biden, who use the Brinkerhoff lodge are
often given briefings and tours that satisfy the “official use”
requirement, Jackie Skaggs, a Grand Teton National Park spokeswoman, told
Miller. At issue is whether those officials should reimburse the government
for extended stays, and for bringing friends and family along.
Biden, according to Time, had 11 family members with him for a four-night
vacation in August. A public daily guidance announced he was traveling to
the National Park in Wyoming for four days with his wife, but did not
include any public events or further details.
LaHood and Duncan also stayed for several nights on separate occasions and
brought their families along. But those non-government guests are supposed
to pay their own way.
But Time’s review of documents obtained through a Freedom of Information
Act request revealed that the park service never billed the officials or
kept official records of their visits.
After being asked about their free family vacations, Biden, LaHood and
Duncan each claim they will pay whatever they owe if the parks department
sends them a bill. Biden is readying a check for $1,200, his office told
Miller. Biden’s office also said, and reiterated to the Loop, that it had
asked about the cost of renting the lodge for personal use before going and
was quoted the per diem rate for Teton County plus $10 per guest.
April Slayton, National Parks Service spokeswoman, confirmed that the agency
is “conducting a review of compliance with the policy and related record
keeping at the Brinkerhoff, and the park is seeking reimbursement, where
appropriate, for use of the Brinkerhoff.”
In 1992, the Park Service sent a memo that the “public interest will be
better served” if so-called “VIP accomodations” be used only for official
use. |
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