Ortiz Loves to Fly, and it Shows

“U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Texas, on Friday remained silent regarding at least 62 trips, both official and special-interest, to 71 countries, even as he finds himself the target of a federal probe into the possible misuse of travel funds.

“Some of the travel included visits to multiple countries during the same journey. Thirty-nine of the trips – from 1993 through 2010 – were funded by taxpayers. Twenty-three trips – from 2000 through 2010 – were sponsored by special-interest groups.”

“Ortiz’s special-interest trips from 2008 to January 2010 were all to China – four journeys, all of which were paid for by the Robstown Improvement Development Corp., or RIDC. ‘He opens doors and he is also an advocate for our little town,’ RIDC board President Armando B. Gonzalez Jr. told the Herald.”

“His view of his role as a legislator is reflected in his biography: ‘Ortiz has emerged in the past decade as an ambassador-without-portfolio, leading trade delegations repeatedly to the Pacific Rim to rustle up opportunities for industry to re-locate to South Texas – a move to bring jobs to the area.’”

“However, the number of jobs created in his legislative district – or other potential economic results of his trips – are not immediately calculable.

“Ortiz’s office was not able to tell the Herald how many jobs Ortiz’s efforts have produced, either directly or indirectly.”

Read more: (Emma Perez-Trevino, “Ortiz Quiet About Trips,” The Brownsville Herald, 09/11/2010)