Comments on: McGee, Other Legislators Pad Expenses

By: PAUL

PAUL — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:06:35 +0000

When you have one party rule it leaves the door open to abuses at all levels of government. Eventually people will take advantage and walk through that open door and abuse taxpayers and the system.

Per diem expenses and abuse by Sen. McKinzie who “had no idea” he was getting mileage reimbursements.

Violation of open meeting laws by commissioners.

Caldwell Mayor taking an all expense paid membership to the YMCA from Urban Renewal and the AG’s office failing to prosecute this felony “as it would serve no public purpose”.

Caldwell Mayor handing his parking ticket over to taxpayers to pay. When he already gets a $10k/year car allowance. (another example of per diem abuse)

Membership to the Arid Club for CCDC chairman Phil Kushlan paid for by taxpayers.

Sen. Phil Hart and his scandal with taxes and outright theft of forest service trees to build his home.

The point is, this is just the tip of the iceberg and it will only get worse until people step up and put a stop to all this nonsense. These people work for us and not the other way around.

By: whidit

whidit — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:43:36 +0000

It is hard to see where the excitement is coming from. Legislators should be compensated for having to live away from home. If some of them are frugal. Great!

By: chicago sam

chicago sam — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:11:52 +0000

A legislator needs a place to put their shoes at night and if he wants to save money by staying with his mother I have no problem with it. I do object however, to per diem expenses being added to his gross income which would increase his retiement benifits

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:52:14 +0000

“Per diem pay eliminates the need for employees to create expense reports documenting the amount spent while traveling on business for reimbursement. Instead, employers reimburse employees at a standard daily rate without regard to the amount actually spent by the employee.” (Wikipedia definition of per diem)

Legislators who took the money did so with a law/regulation they wrote for themselves and the term “per diem” excludes any requisite receipts or validation of the costs incurred. It might raise eyebrows but is not illegal and the per diem was approved by the boss legislator over these folks. Given the long days legislators put in paying per diem without receipts is not something I can overly excited about.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:06:55 +0000

This is outrageous and although it may not rise to the level of a criminal act, it is stealing my tax dollars. Anyone who is taking these per diem payments who is not actually incurring these costs, should be bounced out on their bums!

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:02:01 +0000

I wonder who paid the air fare for the trip to Turkey for McGee and his wife?