JEERS ... to Congressman Raul Labrador, R-Idaho. Isn't he the last politician you'd expect to be on a congressional junket? But there he was, getting ferried about on a CODEL - shorthand for congressional delegation - trip throughout the Middle East. CODELs typically mean flying on a U.S. government jet, staying in expensive hotels, enjoying good meals and bringing along congressional staffers. It isn't cheap. Just the kind of thing the Tea Party hates. As the Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey reported, Labrador left the country on Jan. 4 with five fellow Republicans to visit Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco and Spain.The outing was set up by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, whose chairman, Darrell Issa, R-Calif., wanted to review embassy security. Issa asked that Labrador attend. Congressional travel gets an unfair rap; you want members of Congress to know something of the world and each other. But isn't Labrador the fellow who is so serious about cutting government spending that he voted against raising the nation's debt ceiling? Besides, he's no longer on Issa's committee/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here (3rd item)

Question: Is Raul fact-finding or helping himself to a congressional perk?