Report claims W.H. political activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A congressional report released Wednesday alleges the White House Office of Political Affairs used taxpayer money to help elect Republicans.

The report by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee found that the office used public funds to pay for trips to help Republican candidates before the 2006 elections, Politico reported.

The report alleges the White House "enlisted agency heads across government in a coordinated effort to elect Republican candidates to Congress," directing them "to make hundreds of trips -- most at taxpayer expense -- for the purpose of increasing the electability of Republicans," the publication reported.

Politico said the report maintains that from Jan. 1, 2006, until Nov. 7, 2006, Cabinet secretaries and other senior officials traveled to more than 300 events recommended by the political affairs office.

"They set out to find banned political activity in the White House," said Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, the top Republican on the committee. "Instead, the committee Democrats found the same kinds of things done by every administration since Eisenhower. Their angry swooning just doesn't pass the smell test."