“The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back” is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The saying is usually credited to American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator Will Rorgers (1879-1935).
 
“The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back!” was printed in the Albert Lea (MN) Tribune on December 28, 2003. “The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back!—Will Rogers” was posted on the newsgroup Google Groups: alt.quotations on September 20, 2005. It’s not certain that Will Rogers ever said this.
 
     
Wikipedia: Will Rogers
William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma), and is known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son”. As an entertainer and humorist, he traveled around the world three times, made 71 films (50 silent films and 21 “talkies”), and wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns. By the mid-1930s, Rogers was hugely popular in the United States for his leading political wit and was the highest paid of Hollywood film stars.
 
Newspapers.com
28 December 2003, Albert Lea (MN) Tribune, pg. 6A, col. 1:
Off the Wall
The taxpayers are sending
congressmen on expensive
trips abroad. It might be
worth it except they
keep coming back!
 
Google Groups: alt.quotations
Congress
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Sep 20, 2005, 1:22:39 PM
(...)
The taxpayers are sending congressmen on
expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it
except they keep coming back!—Will Rogers
     
Newspapers.com
23 February 2006, Daily Press (Newport News, VA), “Congress vs. ethics? Ethics doesn’t stand a chance” by Paul Greenberg, pg. A11, col. 4:
Back in his day, Will Rogers pointed out the only drawback to such an ideal arrangement: “The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad,” he noted. “It night be worth it except they keep coming back.”
 
Google Groups: net-gold
UNITED STATES: POLITICS: WRITING YOUR CONGRESSMAN: Send Free Faxes
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
May 9, 2006, 6:58:36 AM
(...)
The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips
abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back!
- Will Rogers
 
X/Twitter
nowone1
@nowone1
The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back. by Will Rogers
3:30 AM · Feb 4, 2008
 
X/Twitter
Sal the Agorist
@SallyMayweather
(“The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back.—Will Rogers” is shown on an image.—ed.)
3:02 PM · Apr 14, 2024