WP: Cost of 's trip to Africa

[Guest guest]

Washington Post

No Skimpy Trip

by Al Kamen

Speaking of , his one-week AIDS delegation to five African nations

in December cost about a half-million dollars, according to documents

obtained by Science magazine. It would have been a lot more, but several

dozen folks, including those from faith-based groups and industry leaders,

who were hit up to contribute to anti-AIDS programs, paid their own way,

ponying up nearly $100,000.

The $477,000 figure uncovered by Science magazine (after a little

recalculation) includes $11,000 for cell phone charges, $10,000 for a PR

firm and nearly $400,000 for a chartered plane. It does not include the cost

of flying everyone to furt, Germany, where the trip started.

Asked about the cell phones, Health and Human Services spokesman Tony Jewell

said international cell phone charges were expensive as staff put together a

" logistically challenging trip. They weren't offering free nights and

weekends to everyone. "

In all, 's trip included three dozen government employees, or about

$14,000 per employee