U.S. Lawmakers Bill Taxpayers For TVs, Cameras, Lexus

[babylonsister]

:nuke:

Lawmakers Bill Taxpayers For TVs, Cameras, Lexus


By LOUISE RADNOFSKY and T.W. FARNAM


Bloomberg News


WASHINGTON -- Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings spent $24,730 in taxpayer money last year to lease a 2008 luxury Lexus hybrid sedan. Ohio Rep. Michael Turner expensed a $1,435 digital camera. Eni Faleomavaega, the House delegate from American Samoa, bought two 46-inch Sony TVs.

The expenditures were legal, properly accounted for and drawn from allowances the U.S. government grants to lawmakers. Equipment purchased with office expense accounts must be returned to the House or the federal General Services Administration when a lawmaker leaves office.

But as British politicians come under widening scorn for spending public money on everything from candy bars to moat-dredging, an examination of U.S. lawmakers' expense claims shows Washington's elected officials have also used public funds for eye-catching purchases.

U.S. politicians, unlike their counterparts in Great Britain, can't bill taxpayers for personal living expenses. The U.S. Treasury gives them an allowance to cover "official and representational expenses," according to congressional rules, and the lawmakers enjoy a fair amount of discretion in how they use the funds.

The Senate and House release volumes of the reimbursement requests for these allowances, but do not make them available electronically. A Wall Street Journal review of thousands of pages of these records for 2008 expenses showed most lawmaker spending flowed to areas such as staff salaries, travel, office rent and supplies, and printing and mailing.

But it also turned up spending on an array of products, from the car leases and electronics to a high-end laptop computer and $22 cellphone holder. Rep. Howard Berman expensed $84,000 worth of personalized calendars, printed by the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, for his constituents. A spokeswoman for Mr. Berman, a California Democrat, didn't return requests for comment.

more...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124364352135868189.html#mod=todays_us_nonsub_page_one

[Andy823]

1. This needs to be addressed.

When the people of this country are going through some of the toughest times in history, members of congress need to stop wasting money on not only the things brought out in this article, but on some of the pork barrel projects that are questionable! Taxpayer dollars need to be accounted for, and now that the democrats are in charge, they need to show the people that they are willing to make the changes, and crack down on wasteful spending, no matter what it is, or who is doing it!

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

Damn

[LiberalFighter]

3. Wall Street Journal is trying to make an issue for political purposes and headlines.

IMO this is not an issue to waste time about.

If Congress had an open account to pay for anything or something on the order that exists in England then I would be alarmed about it. But that is not the case. Each member of Congress receives a budget and from that budget they pay for salaries and expenses both in their state or district and DC. Representatives generally would all receive the same budget. Those living further away may receive more. I don't recall that part of their budget. Senators receive a budget based on their state's population. House Speaker, other house leaders, and Senate leaders receive additional money.

Each member determines how many staff members in DC and their state they will have and their pay.

[babylonsister]

5. Seems to be lots of 'no comments' if there's nothing wrong.

And why would the rep from Samoa need two 46" TVs? FTR, I don't own anything nearly that large in my whole modest house.

[LiberalFighter]

7. I would want to know too. But I think a reputable reporter (which are few)

would either call to find out or go to the officer personally and ask about it.

After seeing this, I would like to know how many members of Congress have purchased HDTV's, when they purchased them, and whether they were purchased only for their DC office or if any members have any in their home district offices.

I would also like to know how many still have the analog tvs.

[MADem]

4. That's obscene. Alcee, particularly, should know better. He's under a microscope.

I notice Murdoch's WSJ went after the Democrats in that article, but once you open a can of worms, you can't decide which worms will crawl out. He may be sorry he brought it up.

[Stevenmarc]

6. Let's see..... WSJ..... Financial Industry Screw ups ..... smells like a diversion

[OhioChick]

8. K&R

:kick:

[Triana]

9. Diversion or none, this stuff needs to be STOPPED - along with the Wall St. Looting of our Treasury.

[pleah]

10. K&R

:mad: