By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The Foley scandal is hardly a distant memory for voters. Now, less than a week before the election, Unites States Congressman Tom Reynolds is accused of approving excessive travel reimbursements for his top aide.
Reynolds shot back angrily at reporters Wednesday when asked to explain the roughly $62,000 in travel expenses approved for Sally Vastola. She is the current executive director for the Republican National Congressional Committee and Reynolds' long-time, Amherst-based chief of staff.
Reynolds said the charges from the Campaign for Cleaner Congress are politically motivated.
But it is precisely the issue of the Vastola's commuting that prompted concerns.
According to the House members' rules handbook, members are not allowed to reimburse aides for commuting. The CCC report shows Vastola chalked up 120 trips from Buffalo to Washington between 1999 and 2002, costing more than $35,000.
Another member rule states that, even for allowable travel, aides must get advanced approval. Reynolds said not so.
Calls from WBFO to the attorney for the House Ethics Committee to clarify the rules were not returned.
The New Yor State Democratic Committee also contrasted travel expenses with those for other Western New York congressional aides. It says Vastola's travel bills were ten times greater.
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