Frequent Flyer Trent Lott

The Senate's majority leader is also the Senate's most frequent corporate flyer.

Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) is far ahead of his colleagues in using corporate airplanes for political travel, according to an analysis of campaign- finance disclosure reports that appeared Monday in USA Today.

Lott has taken 59 trips on private aircraft owned by some 30 companies over the past five years, and has reimbursed those companies $101,029. That's more than five times the total of the Senate's second most frequent corporate flier, Democrat Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who repaid companies $18,730 for 16 trips during the same period.

Close behind Kennedy were Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.), who spent $17,757 on corporate flights, and Sen Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), who spent $15,157.

The analysis was prepared by the Campaign Study Group, a consulting firm that specializes in campaign finance research.

Topping the list of Lott's corporate travel hosts was United States Tobacco Co., to which Lott paid over $18,000 for seven trips. U.S. Tobacco was also the largest overall provider of transportation to Senate candidates, with a total of $31,393, followed by Federal Express ($15,253), Kansas City Southern Industries ($11,408) and Entergy, a Mississippi electric utility and power marketing company ($11,044).

"Trent Lott is rapidly becoming the king of corporate charters," said Dwight Morris, the Campaign Study Group's president.

But, added Morris, Lott has a long way to go to catch up to Bob Dole, his predecessor as Senate majority leader, who took $700,000 in corporate airplane trips during his failed 1996 presidential run.

The group's report covers only Senate campaign committees and not political action committees run by Lott and other senators.

Lott spokesman John Czwartacki said the majority leader has done nothing wrong.

"This is fully disclosed, privately funded and totally legal travel for a leader whose job demands he be on the road quite a bit. We are complying with the law and sparing the taxpayers the cost."

Members of Congress and candidates for Capitol Hill are permitted to use corporate planes for travel to campaign or fund-raising events as long as they pay in advance for first-class fares.

Corporate jets typically are more luxurious and convenient for politicians than commercial airliners. And companies have the opportunity to curry favor with legislators flying on their planes.

U.S. Tobacco spokeswoman Lisa Winjum defended her company's practices.

"From time to time, and at their request, the company may make these aircraft available to officeholders, candidates or their staff for travel, provided the aircraft is not otherwise scheduled for use by the company."

But, said Morris, "It's a thinly disguised campaign contribution," since the flight tends to be worth far more to the candidate than the amount he actually pays the company.

Members of the congressinal leadership have traditionally topped the list of corporate fliers, but Morris said more rank-and-file members are now taking advantage of the flights.