The Monitor newspaper in McAllen reveals a taxpayer-funded excursion for four city firefighters.

The story notes that the local firefighter’s union got $7,000 in expenses from the city to fund travel to a 2008 convention in Las Vegas. The hotel rates at this year’s event in San Diego start at $229, with a couple of hotels sold out.

We have to wonder a couple of things: If these are city employees, why are they not negotiating for a government hotel rate? Also, who was the official responsible for allowing such a payment to be part of a union contract?

As the subjects in the story point out, this arrangement is hardly usual. Unions should pay for the training of their own, or at least part of it. And this arrangement is truly unfair to the public.

The public benefits from well-trained firefighters. But motorcycles rides, open bars and golf tournaments - all of which are scheduled as part of the program - do not fit into most people's idea of training. That is where such travel turns into a junket and criticism is warranted.

Check out the comments on this story; it’s a good piece of journalism.