Democratic candidate Bobbie Coray says Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, is trying to cover up the number of lobbyist-paid trips he's taken during his 14 years in Congress.
Coray, the former economic development director of Cache County, said Monday Hansen lied about the number during a KTVX, Channel 4, debate televised Sunday.In the debate, Coray charged that Hansen, a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, took 48 trips to places such as Florida, California and Korea at the expense of defense contractors.
Hansen responded, "I am one of the least-traveled members. I haven't taken more than 10 trips."
He went on to accuse Coray's campaign of "bad research."
But House financial disclosure statements signed by Hansen reveal the congressman had, in fact, accepted 48 trips from 1987 through 1993. Companies such as McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed paid for lodging, food and airfare on the great majority.
Coray said she was shocked when Hansen responded to her jab in the debate. "I believed him for a second. When someone looks me in the eyes, I believe him . . . I think he thought he could cover it up because he believes nobody checks the facts, except we do."
Hansen's son and campaign manager, Joe Hansen, said Coray's charges are a simple attempt to gain media attention.
He said the 10 trips the 1st District congressman was referring to were overseas trips, "not every time he left Washington as part of his job."