Trump hotel tops list for Bill Shuster campaign spending

Chambersburg Public Opinion

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Bill Shuster for Congress committee has spent more on campaign events at Trump properties than any other venue since Donald Trump won the presidency.

In this June 5, 2017, file photo, Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., holds up paper slips used in air traffic control during a ceremony held in the East Room of the White House to announce the Air Traffic Control Reform Initiative.

Shuster’s campaign committee spent $9,277 at the Trump International Hotel and BLT Prime steakhouse -- where a cup of coffee costs $6, according to campaign finance reports. In second place on the expense list is Acqua AL 2, an Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C., where the committee spent less than $8,500.

Shuster, R-Everett, ranks No. 4 among congressmen for spending at Trump properties, as first reported by the Washington Post on Monday. Freshman Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, spent $16,602; Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-New Jersey, $15,221 and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-California, $12,545.

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Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Post revealed that federal political committees reported paying nearly $1.3 million to Trump entities since the 2016 election. Trump’s campaign has been the biggest spender ($534,864). Forty Republican congressman have spent campaign or leadership PAC money at Trump properties.

Trump has held onto his businesses while in the White House, but turned over their operations to his two sons.

Trump has championed Shuster's efforts to privatize air traffic controllers. The two also want to boost investment in the nation's infrastructure.

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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Lee Jin-man/AP

Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has voted in line with the Trump administration 98 percent of the time, according to fivethirtyeight.com. The political blog followed 52 votes.

The Shuster campaign made four payments totaling $9,277 to the Trump properties in downtown Washington, D.C. -- $2,700 to BLT Prime on March 1 for event catering, $6,038 to the Trump International Hotel on April 7 for “event facility rental,” $150 to BLT Prime on April 7 for meeting expense and $390 to BLT Prime on May 4 for event catering.

Just one Shuster event exceeded the campaign rental at the Trump luxury hotel -- $6,531 to rent the Altoona Grand Hotel. Shuster’s campaign set up at the hotel during election night.

During the past year his campaign spent slightly more on beverages from Schneiders of Capitol Hill, an upscale wine and spirits shop in Washington, D.C., than on the Trump hotel rental.

BLT Prime’s menu is pricey compared to similar fare in the 9th Congressional District -- $23 for two eggs and bacon, $22 for a chicken BLT sandwich, $35 for one of the less expensive entrees, Scottish Salmon, and $6 for a cup of coffee.

Shuster spent $8,481 at his campaign’s more popular campaign eatery Acqua AL 2, where coffee costs $2.50 a cup. Five events and a meeting were expensed.

The Post reported that Trump’s venue, which opened in September, has not upended Washington’s established fundraising business. GOP legislators in 2017 continued to spend more campaign and PAC money at the Charlie Palmer steakhouse on Capitol Hill than at all the Trump properties.

A grilled chicken breast platter runs $26 at Charlie Palmer's. The price of a cup of coffee is not listed on the menu.

Shuster’s campaign has spent more than $51,500 on major campaign events during the past year. They were held in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, Florida and Washington, D.C.

His committee has raised nearly $1.2 million for his re-election campaign.

Shuster to not respond to a reporter's question for this story.

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House Transportation Committee Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, during the committee's hearing where United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz testified.

Here are Shuster’s campaign events, reported after the 2016 election, that cost more than $1,000:

$3,143 for event catering by ACQUA AL 2 Washington, D.C., paid on Oct. 20, 2016.
$1,814 for event catering by Max Downtown, Hartford, Connecticut, paid on Oct. 20, 2016.
$1,568 for event catering by The Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, paid on Nov. 4, 2016.
$2,697 for event catering by The Blairmont Club, Hollidaysburg, paid on Nov. 18, 2016.
$2,527 rent and event catering to the Union League of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, paid on Nov. 18, 2016.
$4,436 for event catering by Well Dunn Catering, Washington, D.C., paid on Dec. 12.
$6,531 rent for event at the Altoona Grand Hotel paid Jan. 2.
$1,586 rent for event at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, paid Jan. 2.
$1,128 for event catering by Ristorante Tosca, Washington, D.C., paid Jan. 2.
$1,158 rent for event at The Benjamin Hotel, New York, paid Jan. 2.
$1,070 for event catering by Melissa Howard, Lakewood Ranch, Florida, paid Feb. 22.
$2,700 for event catering by BLT Prime, Washington, D.C., paid on March 1.
$3,273 for event beverages to Schneiders of Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., paid April 7.
$6,038 rent for event at Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C., paid April 7.
$2,267 rent for event at The Union League of Philadelphia paid April 7.
$1,397 for event catering by Schneiders of Capitol Hill paid on May 4.
$2,632 for event catering by Acqua AL 2 paid on May 4.
$2,354 for event catering by Bobby Vans Grill, Washington, D.C., paid on June 21.
$1,540 for event catering by Ristorante Tosca, Washington, D.C., paid July 28.
$1,713 for event catering by Oceanaire Restaurant, Washington, D.C., paid Sept. 25.