By Staff, Associated Press, May 29, 2005

30 May 2005 // U.S. Rep. John Boehner and the top aide to U.S. Rep. Bob Ney were among those making belated disclosures of special-interest-paid trips since House Majority Tom DeLay's travel has been scrutinized.

The trips were among at least 158 previously unreported by House members and their aides.

Boehner, a West Chester Republican, accepted air fare and lodging worth $4,595 during a trip to Scotland in August 2004 but did not report it until this month. Boehner said he discovered "my staff had failed to submit a travel disclosure," an error made "during a staff transition." Congressional ethics rules require trips to be reported within one month.

Boehner's trip was financed by the Transatlantic Policy Network, a private group that fosters development between the United States and Europe.

Ney, who has come under scrutiny for his ties to Indian tribe lobbyist Jack Abramoff, did not accompany Will Heaton, his chief of staff, on a February 2004 trip to Daytona Beach, Fla., said Ney spokesman Brian Walsh. Heaton attended a tax conference with congressional staffers from other offices, Walsh said.

The trip was funded by International Speedway Corp., which owns Daytona Speedway. Heaton's tab came to $822 for travel, lodging and meals. Walsh said he knew nothing about the tardiness of the report, which also was filed this month.

In 2002, Ney took a golfing trip to Scotland with Abramoff and reported that a nonprofit policy group paid for it. The group later said it did not pay for it. DeLay is the subject of an ethics investigation for a similar trip with Abramoff.

Ney, a Republican from St. Clairsville, has offered to meet with the House ethics committee. He has denied any wrongdoing.