Expense Accounts for Politicians

How SWEET it is....

Published on September 17, 2007 By Trudygolightly In Politics

Wanna have a steak for lunch? NO problem. How about a lobster dinner? If you were dining on a politician's expense account, you'd have no prolem eating whatever your little heart desired.

Senator Tom Neuville, R-Northfield MN. said: "I am prepared to accept $96.00 and explain to my constituents that the time commitment up here is substantial and $96.00 is warranted."

Senator Geoff Michel, R-Edina, MN. said: " I don't know how we spend $96.00 on meals. That's a pretty healthy diet."

"He accepted $9, 174. 00 at the old rate of $66.00 a day". That quote is from the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The Senate rate is $96.00 a day, up from $66.00. The daily House rate is $77.00, up from $66.00 and Legislators' annual salary is $31,140.

"In addition, members who live more than 50 miles from the Capitol can get paid for travel to and lodging in St. Paul, as well as a few other expenses to which all members are entitled per diem:

Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, DFL-Long Prairie accepted $23, 922. Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, accetped $23079. Sen. Mary Olson DFL-Bemidiji, accepted $24, 353. And Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, accepted $24, 757.....

The TOTAL bill is $2, 059, 530. For the House it was $1,228,998. and in the Senate it was $843, 147."

Information courtesy of the Pioneer Press.

How about them numbers? And people wonder why inmates are eating bologna....hmph!

Comments

Jythier

on Sep 17, 2007

How am I supposed to eat 3 $25 steaks a day and order a side ala carte with only $66?

Trudygolightly

on Sep 17, 2007

Reply By: JythierPosted: Monday, September 17, 2007
How am I supposed to eat 3 $25 steaks a day and order a side ala carte with only $66?

Have a bologna sandwich in place of one steak?

ParaTed2k

on Sep 17, 2007

Hmmm, that same congress decided that $192.74/month was sufficient subsistance allowance for Commissioned and Warrant Officers. I wonder why they think that's good enough for the Officers working in the Pentagon, but not near enough for them to survive on the hill. I guess food prices are just that much higher up in slop troughs of their Ivory Tower.

Trudygolightly

on Sep 17, 2007

I wonder why they think that's good enough for the Officers working in the Pentagon, but not near enough for them to survive on the hill.

Rather disgusting I think!

Dr Guy

on Sep 18, 2007

Hmmm, that same congress decided that $192.74/month was sufficient subsistance allowance for Commissioned and Warrant Officers.

Actually, they are state senators, not Federal ones.

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 18, 2007

Actually, they are state senators, not Federal ones.

Right. I'd hate to see what the federal per diems are.

Jythier

on Sep 18, 2007

If you're rich enough to get elected, you're rich enough to buy your own food.

I suggest setting the amount they are paid as what they get paid for the year. Okay, bad explanation. Here's what I mean:
The President gets paid $200,000 per year. He's worth every penny of it, I'm sure. Anyway, he can't really hold another job. He's a bit busy. So, pay him $200,000... less whatever else he makes during the year, earned or unearned, but never less than $0 of course.

Do the same for all representatives/senators. Basically, say that the job is worth x per year, but if you're already making that you don't get anything extra. You're already paid enough. So a person who has to quit their job to run can still get paid, but a person who is making $500k a year in investments doesn't get anything.

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