Remember this the next time your unit tells you they have no money for something:

The military regularly spends thousands of dollars on alcohol, food and other “supplies” when representatives accompany lawmakers on overseas trips, according to travel records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

The records indicate that the military spends freely on the trips and uses the occasions as opportunities to build relationships with lawmakers who might influence budgets or appointments, the paper wrote.

For example, an Army liason spent $7,000 on various expenses when Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., traveled to Europe in 2008 to study banking issues. Documents obtained by the Journal reveal the military’s motive. Correspondence dated Nov. 25, 2008, between Army officials whose names were blocked out read: “1. Establish a personal connection between the Army and Senator Dodd office. 2. Create Member access through relationships. 3. Educate members of Congress on FCS,” a reference to the Future Combat Systems, the massive military modernization program that was killed in 2009.  [Stars & Stripes]

Is there anything shady that Senator Dodd is not involved in?