Trump To Pay For Travel Costs? Bill By Venice Congressman Seeks Reimbursement

VENICE, CA — California Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu on Tuesday introduced a bill that would force President Donald Trump to reimburse taxpayers for trips taken to hotels, resorts or other properties that he owns.

According to the text of the bill, entitled Stop Waste and Misuse by the President Act, SWAMP Act, taxpayers have essentially subsidized the president's businesses everyone he travels to one of them, such as Mar-a-Lago.

"It is unacceptable for the president to maintain an interest in traveling to properties in which he has a direct financial interest, as the U.S. government is responsible for renting space for personnel in said private commercial entities," the bill said.

According to the bill, trips to Mar-a-Lago have cost the taxpayers $3.7 million. The bill said the president's businesses benefited from the media coverage of him being there.

The bill would change the law so that high-ranking officials who have Secret Service protection, including the president, would have to foot their own bills when traveling to properties they own.

Lieu represents California's 33rd Congressional District, which covers most of Los Angeles's coastline, including Venice.

— Photo courtesy of Ted Lieu's Office