Congressional Tab for Copenhagen Trip a Mere $1.1 Million

Don't worry about any of this. As of tomorrow night we'll be entering the new era of fiscal responsibility or something by lopping off 37 cents in federal spending now that Obama will pretend to be a fiscal conservative or populist after a year of bankrupting us.

Thanks to a recently filed Congressional expense reports there's new light shed on the Copenhagen Climate Summit in Denmark and how much it cost taxpayers.

CBS News Investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports official filings and our own investigation show at least 106 people from the House and Senate attended - spouses, a doctor, a protocol expert and even a photographer.

For 15 Democratic and 6 Republican Congressmen, food and rooms for two nights cost $4,406 tax dollars each. That's $2,200 a day - more than most Americans spend on their monthly mortgage payment.

CBS News asked members of Congress and staff about whether they're mindful that it's public tax dollars they're spending. Many said they had never even seen the bills or the expense reports.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is a key climate change player. He went to Copenhagen last year. Last week, we asked him about the $2,200-a-day bill for room and food.

"I can't believe that," Rep. Waxman said. "I can't believe it, but I don't know."

he can't believe what he doesn't know. Sure, that makes sense.

But his name is in black and white in the expense reports. The group expense report was filed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. She wouldn't talk about it when our producer tried to ask.

Questions are for the little people. How dare CBS try to question The Queen!

By the way, I have just as much contempt for the Republicans wasting our money on this fiasco. The hubris and arrogance of Pelosi and Waxman, however, is beyond the pale. They are so out of touch with what's going on in this country and they're so arrogant to not even answer questions about recklessly spending our money. Imagine their shock when they're voted out of the majority in November.

Note also this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what was actually spent. Don't forget TelePrompter Man brought at least 60 people along for this failed junket.

Thanks to Ed Morrissey for the link.