WASHINGTON - After Congress recessed for Thanksgiving with urgent unfinished business that included facilitating income tax refunds and providing veterans benefits, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid left on an eight-day government financed trip through Latin America.

Reid was scheduled to leave the Sunday after Thanksgiving and return the following Sunday. His itinerary included Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Paraguay. His staff told this column Reid made the trip because of "stagnant" U.S. policy in Latin America under the Bush administration.

Although congressional recesses supposedly are "home work periods" enabling lawmakers to deal with constituents, many travel abroad on "codels" (congressional delegations). Reid's office described his post-Thanksgiving codel as "bipartisan." He is accompanied by Republican Sens. Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Mike Crapo of Idaho, plus Democratic Sens. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

NO LOBBYISTS WANTED

When a prominent Washington lobbyist expressed a desire last week to attend Sen. Barack Obama's next fundraiser, he was politely told: "Thanks, but no thanks."

The lobbyist had been impressed by Democratic presidential aspirant Obama's moving speech to the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Des Moines. But he was informed registered lobbyists are not welcome at the senator's events, even if no financial contribution is involved.

Obama's campaign to finish ahead of frontrunning Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucuses depends on showing he is removed from the corruption of Washington, as she is not.

DOLES RAISING DOUGH

Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) who is losing the funding battle to his Democratic counterparts, is turning for help to a Washington power couple: Robert and Elizabeth Dole.

The NRSC is asking $28,500 a ticket to attend a Dec. 13 evening reception at the Washington residence of the Doles. Former Sen. Bob Dole has been a nominee for both president and vice president. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is Ensign's predecessor at the NRSC.

Lobbyists who mainly give to Republicans are hedging their bets for 2008 or even increasing what they give Democrats because they expect an increased Senate Democratic majority.

COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.