By Associated Press
Washington, DC – Retiring U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer of Alabama says his recent campaign expenses on meals and travel were for political and district-related functions that the Federal Election Commission considers legitimate.
Cramer, a nine-term Democrat from Huntsville, has spent thousands of dollars in leftover campaign money in recent months, even though he announced in March that he will not seek re-election. The expenses included numerous restaurant meals such as a $954 outing at a steakhouse, more than $3,000 for plane tickets and $305 for a Hilton hotel room in northern California's wine country.
After initially declining to answer questions about the spending, he said Thursday the California trip was to attend a Democratic fundraiser. He said he also frequently hosts meals with civic and business groups to discuss issues in his district.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)