Politico has put the spotlight on travel by members of Congress paid for by outside groups. The story highlights international trips that lawmakers, and sometimes their family members, took, and says that in 2009 outside groups have spent more than $140,000 on such travel for senators.

Two years after Congress toughened ethics laws that prevent lobbyists and corporations from paying for members’ trips, lawmakers are still seeing the world courtesy of other outside groups.

Although the trips are permissible because the money doesn’t come directly from lobbyists or corporations, the walls can be very thin. Some of the nonprofit groups that sponsor member travel are themselves funded by corporate sponsors, and the conferences that members attend on the groups’ dime often put them in direct contact with representatives of the corporate sponsors.

The story also mentions a trip by Texas' own Republican Sen. John Cornyn:

... Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) each took a trip with his spouse to scenic Beaver Creek, Colo. (motto: “not exactly roughing it”), paid for by conservative think tank The American Enterprise Institute. The cost to AEI: $3,225 and $1,910, respectively. The conference featured business leaders, government officials and scholars discussing economic, social policy and security issues.

For another take on travel by public officials, check out our story posted yesterday that highlighted travel by Texas state senators using taxpayer money. We looked at senators who spent money on a trip to Maui, overnight stays at a Ritz-Carlton in Manhattan, and charter and personal plane travel.