California Third Congressonal Race Heats Up; Lungren the Loopholer?

Bera launches 'LoopholeLungren' site

The race between Republican Dan Lungren and Democrat Dr. Ami Berra for California's Third Congressional district heated up yesterday when Bera's campaign launched a new website called LoopholeLungren.com.

The site features a 2007 ABC News story highlighting a junket Lungren and his wife took to Hawaii by exploiting a loophole in the “Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.” To get around the rules barring direct gifts, the sponsor of the junket, American Airport Executive’s, held a fundraiser for Lungren at the Hawaiian resort who was thereby able to charge the expense to his campaign's warchest.

Lungren reportedly spent about a half and hour talking at conference and spent the balance of the time at the resort's pool.

"I don’t understand what you have such a big deal about pools," Lungren said when asked about the junket. "I’m a California kid; I grew up around pools. We do a lot of business around pools."