Lobbyist paid for Jones' '01 trip

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Stephanie Tubbs Jones, an Ohio Democrat who sits on the House ethics committee, took a 2001 trip to Puerto Rico that was paid for by a registered lobbyist firm -- an apparent violation of the chamber's ethics rules -- according to documents that she filed with the House clerk.

A spokeswoman for Mrs. Jones disputed those records yesterday, saying "human error" led a staffer to list the name of D.C. lobbyist firm Smith, Dawson & Andrews as having paid the $3,366 tab for Mrs. Jones and her husband to travel to the Puerto Rican island of Vieques in the Caribbean.

"Smith Dawson was put on the form in error," Jones spokeswoman Nicole Williams said. "The invitation came from Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques. They hired Smith Dawson to handle logistics for the trip."

Miss Williams declined to provide The Washington Times with any evidence to support her assertion and refused to have either the lobbying firm or the group she says actually paid for the trip provide any documentation to prove her claim.

In addition to the travel disclosure form, which was filed two weeks after Mrs. Jones' return and bears her signature, the lobbyists also were listed as the trip's sponsor in the financial disclosure forms she signed and filed at the end of the year.

In a brief telephone interview late yesterday, James P. Smith, a managing partner with Smith, Dawson & Andrews, denied that his firm paid for Mrs. Jones' travel. He offered to place his hand on the Bible.

The irregularities mirror some of the ethics questions dogging House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Texas Republican. Various investigations into casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff revealed that at least one of Mr. DeLay's trips was paid for by Mr. Abramoff rather than the private entity listed by Mr. DeLay. Mr. DeLay says he was unaware of Mr. Abramoff's connection.

House rules specifically bar "registered lobbyists" from paying for trips by members. Private groups, such as Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques (TPRV), which opposed the Navy's bomb-testing site on Vieques, are allowed to fund trips.

Also on the Vieques trip with Mrs. Jones, who was on the ethics committee at the time, were Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, and other House members. Mrs. Pelosi and the other legislators listed TPRV as the trip's sponsor.

"The trip was entirely proper," Pelosi spokeswoman Jennifer Crider said. "Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques paid for Leader Pelosi's travel."