Mel: I'm going to Disney World

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, the newly named chair of the Republican national party, will spend next weekend at Walt Disney World - with lobbyists who will pay $5,000 to his political action committee for the privilege, reports the New York Times.

According to the story that spells out how members of Congress have found ways to work around new ethics rules that bar goodies from lobbyists, Dana Harris of Bellwether Consulting, a Republican firm that "specializes in courting lobbyists’ political action committees" has set up the event.

Congress now prohibits lobbyists from paying for lawmakers' meals, but it doesn't prevent lobbyists from contributing money to a politician's political action committee, which then pays for the lawmaker's trip.

Martinez told the newspaper: "I've heard from many other members that they have had very successful weekend events. People can bring their families to it and bring their children, and it’s going to be fun."