Thousands spent for Massachusetts politicians to travel this summer, records show

Elected officials across Massachusetts state government were treated to thousands of dollars’ worth of trips this summer on other organizations’ dimes, including an excursion to St. Thomas in the Caribbean, according to ethics records released to the Herald this week. The documents are the latest example of lawmakers, constitutional officers, and government officials scoring different experiences because of their public positions. A series of procurement card reports from last fiscal year documented taxpayer spending on various lodging and trips. A batch of ethics disclosures from August and September showed elected officials also took part in a trip to Dublin that was partially paid for by a cultural organization and a trip to Florida covered by a business marketing its wares to state lawmakers. Attorney General Andrea Campbell traveled to St. Thomas in June to attend a national conference hosted by the Attorney General Alliance, a national group that covered more than $4,000 in travel, lodging, and food expenses for the Massachusetts Democrat. Campbell’s trip appeared briefly in procurement cards records from last fiscal year because a taxpayer-funded credit card linked to her office was used to buy a $49 meal at the island’s airport. But a spokesperson for Campbell did not disclose the total cost of the trip and who paid for it when pressed by the Herald earlier this summer. The office did acknowledge in a statement that the attorney general traveled to the island with a Massachusetts State Police trooper. In an ethics disclosure filed Aug. 5, Campbell said she attended the five-day meeting in June with at least 13 other Democratic and Republican attorneys general, legal experts, and public and private sector leaders “for collaborative learning and discussion.” “Conference covered topics on cybersecurity, consumer protection, artificial intelligence, environmental law, and cross-border collaboration. Participation as a speaker and attendance at the conference fosters innovation, deepens professional networks, and collaborates on urgent legal concerns that can be brought back to the Mass AGO,” she said in her filing. The Attorney General Alliance covered $710 worth of transportation costs, an estimated $1,850 in lodging, $961 in meals, and $650 for admission to the conference, according to Campbell’s ethics disclosure. A spokesperson for Campbell said the attorney general prioritizes collaboration with peers in other states and across party lines, does not select the location of the conferences, and attends some but not all of them, “as is common for statewide elected officials.” “Organizations like the Attorney General’s Alliance and the National Association of Attorneys General are bipartisan, nonprofit organizations with no ‘special interest’ agenda that host conferences to help facilitate that important work,” the spokesperson said in a statement. But Republicans running for governor criticized Campbell for taking the trip. “Attorney General Campbell should stop accepting special interest dollars, carrying out foreign junkets on the taxpayers’ dime, and refusing to implement the audit of the Legislature,” said Mike Kennealy, a former cabinet secretary under Gov. Charlie Baker. Brian Shortsleeve, another Republican running for governor, pointed to the state’s ethics laws. “Massachusetts clearly needs stronger ethics rules prohibiting officials from accepting privately sponsored luxury vacations under the guise of official business,” he said in a statement. House pols jump the pond to Ireland At least 14 House lawmakers traveled to Ireland last month for a four-day trip partially paid for by the American Irish State Legislators Caucus, according to ethics disclosures. Legislators were still working out what costs would be covered by the organization, one of the pols said. In identical statements included in each of the ethics disclosures, the lawmakers said the trip would promote the interests of Massachusetts because about one in five residents claims Irish ancestry, the United States and Ireland have a large trade relationship, and migration from the Bay State and Ireland is still active. “The countries have a shared history of fighting for independence, which is notable as the United States is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the War for Independence,” the elected officials said in disclosures filed with the House Clerk’s Office. The trip started in Dublin on Aug. 20 and included an evening welcome reception at the historic Jameson Distillery on Bow Street, according to itineraries included in the disclosures. Lawmakers also traveled to Belfast, where they were scheduled to tour the Titanic Museum and meet with political representatives at the Northern Ireland Assembly, the itineraries said. Back in Dublin, lawmakers had the option to catch a Kansas State versus Iowa State football game. None of the documents disclosed the cost of the trip. Each lawmaker said they were still awaiting financial information from the event organizer and planned to soon file additional reports with the final price, according to the documents. Rep. John Lawn, a Watertown Democrat who recently admitted to sufficient facts in an OUI, participated in the trip. He referred questions about the importance of the trip to the description that legislators included in their ethics disclosures. “Regarding cost, Massachusetts legislators who attended the summit contributed directly to certain expenses, either personally or through campaign funds in accordance with campaign finance rules. In my case, I paid for airfare and lodging, and I did not attend the football game,” Lawn said in a statement to the Herald. Fall River Democrat plans Israel trip The cadre of politicians was not the only to have foreign travel plans. Rep. Alan Silvia, a Fall River Democrat, disclosed that he plans to travel to Israel this month for five days to attend the “50 States, One Israel: Bipartisan Delegation of U.S. State Legislators to Israel 2025.” Silvia’s trip, which will also feature more than 200 legislators from all 50 states, is expected to cost $6,500, according to an ethics disclosure filed Wednesday. Silvia listed Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the entity that would reimburse, waive or pay for travel expenses, though it was unclear what portion of the costs the government planned to cover. “The program will offer an in-depth exploration of Israel’s leadership, society, heritage, and spirit of innovation, and firsthand insights into the complexities and opportunities facing Israel today through high-level meetings with decision-makers, site visits to key national and cultural landmarks, and engagement with experts in political, social, and academic fields,” Silvia said in the disclosure. Silvia did not respond to multiple text messages from the Herald nor an email sent to his main legislative email address and a staff member. When reached by phone early Thursday afternoon, Silvia said he was busy at an appointment, planned to leave for Israel Saturday, and asked the Herald to call back several hours later. He did not pick up the phone later in the day nor return a voicemail. Sen. Lydia Edwards, who herself took a trip to Michigan this summer paid for by an organization hosting a national conference in the state, said taxpayers are not footing the bill for trips covered by other organizations. “I would say more information is better, and that’s why we file disclosures,” Edwards told the Herald Wednesday. State lawmakers head to Florida on the dime of business showing off its equipment A group of state lawmakers was also provided a free trip to Kissimmee and Palm Beach, Florida by Utah-based audiovisual equipment supplier Audio Enhancement to learn about the company’s safety and translation tools for classrooms, according to a trio of disclosures. Democratic Sens. Robyn Kennedy of Worcester, Liz Miranda of Boston, and Pavel Payano of Lawrence traveled last month to Florida, which collectively cost Audio Enhancement more than $4,600, according to the lawmakers’ disclosures. Rep. Shirley Arriaga, a Chicopee Democrat, also went on the trip, according to an ethics filing. The trio of senators said Audio Enhancement provides audio and visual translation tools for school districts with higher percentages of English learning students, like ones they represent. “Meeting with AE’s representatives and observing how their tools are being implemented will inform my work in the Massachusetts Senate in public education and support future policymaking to enhance student safety, expand access to learning, and support inclusive communication for students in the commonwealth and their families,” the three senators said in matching statements included in their disclosures. Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat who coordinated the trip, said legislators on the trip do not make decisions about whether school districts in Massachusetts choose to use the technology offered by Audio Enhancement. “It’s definitely not a quid pro quo situation,” Gomez told the Herald. “We don’t make those decisions. It’s more of understanding how can we look at language translation technology and AI. And this just happened to be one organization that was brought to me through my school system.” Sean Pavone/iStock / Getty Images PlusOn the itinerary: A marketing trip to Palm Beach, Florida. Derick Hudson/iStock Editorial / Getty Images PlusOn the itinerary: A trip to the historic Jameson Distillery on Bow Street in Dublin, Ireland.