Content area
Full Text
In 1987, Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson, his wife and three daughters jetted overseas for a 17-day visit. In Israel, he toured a day-care center and a Red Sea kibbutz and met with the mayor of Tel Aviv. In Italy, he discussed earthquake preparedness with a former government official. In both countries, he stayed in luxury hotels.
The tab for the trip-more than $24,000-was paid through the councilman's private treasury of political contributions.
Records show that Bernson has spent $120,622 in campaign funds on travel during the last three years-far more than anyone else on the 15-member City Council.
Bernson's privately financed travel expenses were nearly three times as high as those of Mayor Tom Bradley, who spent $44,939, and exceeded those of Gov. George Deukmejian, who spent $72,260 during the same period.
Council members spent an annual average of $8,635 in privately raised funds and $2,427 in city funds on travel during the last three years, a Times survey found.
Like Bernson, a number of council members used private funds-from their reelection accounts, political action committees, officeholder accounts and "friends committees"-to travel extensively in the United States and abroad for a variety of conferences, tours and meetings.
Use of private political funds for travel is legal, providing it is related to government or political purposes. Pleasure trips are prohibited. But state officials acknowledge that the law is vague and difficult to enforce.
"Many statutes are enforced by public opinion, and I think this is one where that's an important ingredient," Asst. Atty. Gen. N. Eugene Hill said.
Between Jan. 1, 1987, and Dec. 31, 1989, Bernson and his wife traveled not only to Italy and Israel, but also to Paris, Hong Kong, London, Beijing and British Columbia, plus New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Boston, Carmel and Hilo, Hawaii.
Bernson said in a recent interview that his privately funded travel was not excessive and all his trips were proper. Much of his travel, he said, was to attend conferences related to his membership on the state Seismic Safety Commission and in the National League of Cities.
The San Fernando Valley councilman also said information acquired while traveling helps him "to do my job and to accomplish the things I've accomplished for the city."
...