We may finally know the secret to how U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, got those washboard abs. Even more surprising, though, is who may have footed the bill: those who contributed to his campaign.

A report released Thursday by non-profit legal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, finds that among the questionable expenses Schock sought reimbursement from his campaign committee for were stays at a five-star hotel in Greece and a luxury resort in Miami ... and $319 for a P90X fitness DVD.

While $319 is relatively minor compared to the much-higher price tags on the other items in the CREW report, I do find it interesting — and more than a bit hypocritical — that Schock claimed the workout video as a “health care” expense, given his very public opposition to the health care law.

So apparently, while better health care for the American public is government overreach, a member of Congress is entitled to get buff on the taxpayers’ dime. I can see where he got that idea, however, in light of the fact that the health care plans provided to lawmakers are far superior to the plans most of us have in the first place. And congressional health care plans are, of course, heavily subsidized with taxpayer dollars.

Schock wasn’t the only member of Congress to be singled out by CREW. Of the 435 House members, the watchdog group discovered that 248 used campaign money to pay a family member, fund a family business or non-profit with which they or a loved one was involved, or provide a low-interest loan to themselves or someone they knew.

“A lot of what other people did is not illegal,” CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said. “What Aaron Schock did crossed the line.”

Schock’s camp claims some of the reimbursements, such as the hotel stay in Greece and the fitness DVD, were the result of “mistakes” that have now been corrected.

“At some point, he realized the fitness tape was a problem and he amended the reports to take them out,” Sloan said. “Originally, P90X was listed as an itemization on what were included on the total. They took those out, left the total the same. There is no way you can be allowed to spend that (campaign) money on the fitness tapes.”

And if they really are a series of honest mistakes, that doesn’t instill a lot of confidence in the competency of the people with whom Schock surrounds himself, and trusts to manage his campaign, does it?

Amy Gehrt may be reached at agehrt@pekintimes.com.