By FITSNews || U.S. Senators and Representatives have been pocketing leftover “per diem” money provided to them by the State Department in violation of a rule that requires them to return it, a new report from the Wall Street Journal has revealed.
Lawmakers have been using this “surplus” per diem money to pay for personal shopping, traveling expenses for their spouses as well as gifts for constituents. Or they’ve just pocketed it.
Compared to the trillion dollar deficits these morons are racking up, this unnecessary spending is chump change, to be sure. But it’s also yet another example of how little these elected officials care about the taxpayers of this country, who are being forced to pinch pennies as the longest, deepest economic recession in eight decades continues to wreak havoc on the American economy.
From the WSJ report:
House lawmakers received between $375,000 and $625,000 in per diem cash over that period, according to a Wall Street Journal estimate based on per diem rates and congressional travel disclosures. There’s no documentation for how those funds were spent. Estimates for Senate travel couldn’t be calculated.
“You are all concerned about nickels and dimes, and I’m not,” said Rep. Alcee Hastings (D., Fla.). “You know, in a taxicab in Kazakhstan, I don’t have time to get a receipt—I don’t speak Kazakh.”
In a subsequent interview, Mr. Hastings said he had time to gather receipts, but didn’t …
… Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) said he once tried to return surplus cash to the State Department, but “they wouldn’t take it. They said, ‘We don’t have a way to handle that.’ ” Mr. Coburn said he sent a personal check to the U.S. Treasury.
Oh, and look who’s been dipping into that cash …
Rep. Joe Wilson (R., S.C.) said he once bought marble goblets in the Kabul airport as gifts for constituents.
Marble goblets?
Sheesh.
Insert your Harry Potter joke here …
By CNSYD March 3, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Obviously you have never traveled under the rules of the JTR (Joint Travel Rules) used by the Federal government. If you think the NCAA has nit picking rules, you haven’t seen anything. The government buys your airline ticket based on their agreements with the airlines. You do not get a choice. They pick the route, the carrier and the times. Lets assume you are to fly out of Columbia to DC and you will be gone for two nights. The current per diem for DC is $297. Of that amount $71 is for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE). So you will be leaving on Monday, staying in DC Monday and Tuesday nights and flying back on Wednesday. So that is 3 times $297 right? Wrong. M&IE are reduced for the travel days and you only get the lodging money ($226) for the two nights in DC. Now try to find a hotel in DC during the week that you can get for $226 a night. Most hotels have “government rate rooms” but they always claim they are full and you have to pay the regular rate. Well at least you have $71 for your meals. Not exactly. They tell you how much you can spend per meal. When you get back you have to fill out mounds of paperwork and provide receipts. No receipt, no reimbursement. IRT Kabul the current per diem rate is $28 per day as it assumed you will be staying in a US cilivian or military compound. That might be a good idea if you don’t want to get your throat cut. So those must have been real fancy goblets. As with anything, if you nickel and dime the traveler, they will nickel and dime you back.
By PandaChris March 3, 2010 at 11:39 pm
They all need to follow the rules; including the nitpicking ones.
If they cant do this, then they are in the wrong profession, pure and simple.
By Old Bike Dude March 4, 2010 at 7:46 am
Joe must go.
By beentook2 March 4, 2010 at 7:52 am
Looks like Moron Joe is gearing up for a big change in the Senate. On his next trips out of the country he will pick up some white robes trimmed in red velvet. Then stop by Spain and pick up some fine leather Galileo Gliders.
Next will come legislation to remodel the Senate Chambers into Roman Baths. They already have a ready and willing crew of lobbyists to pour their wine, feed them grapes and relieve their hormonal stress.
With a little luck they will be dumb enough to build a Coliseum. At that point there will be the opportunity to feed the bastards to the lions.
By Commonman March 4, 2010 at 8:01 am
Marble goblets are very conservative and sturdy like the values Joe holds so dear. The marble reminds him of the bedrock conservatism that is the basis of his appeal to his voters back home. Now if only I was one of the constituents getting the marble goblet, everything would be wonderful.
By WorkingTommyC March 4, 2010 at 8:43 am
The reason for legislators traveling out of country is . . . ?
What the hell business do they have going out of country to expose themselves to even MORE potential of graft and influence by foreign governments?
There are people who are assigned to be in foreign countries called, “ambassadors” and “diplomats.”
The executive branch is responsible for foreign relations. Any actions by legislators as legislators is unethical if not illegal. In addition to that, THEY CAN DO THEIR D—-D JOBS FROM D.C. Any other time should be spent IN THEIR HOME STATES!
Why should we, the people, pay ANYTHING for these self-aggrandizing trips? If they want to go, they go on their own with no protection and no reimbursement. THEY pay their OWN way and for their own security or do without.
What has been the excuse Joe Wilson has used in speeches and meetings back in his district? He says these are “fact-finding” trips.
THIS IS THE 21st CENTURY! WE’RE IN THE FREAKING INFORMATION AGE! Have an internet conference or get on the phone or freaking READ REPORTS if you want to know the facts, Joe!
Nothing but a dog and pony show is put on for them when they go over anyway. If anything, they’re just tourists getting fed a bunch of information to benefit whoever is the tour guide.
By Darth March 4, 2010 at 9:50 am
Poor Joe, Rangel’s caught big time and his apologists are hungry for any Republican to throw under the buses’ wheels ‘ere cheatin Charlie goes down.
Tangentially, we note that Madame speaker has been busted for the same offense as Saint Joe, doe she continue to transgress or are the records of her use of funds as conveniently unavailable as some others are cast out as chum for the bottom feeders of the MSM?
By James F. March 4, 2010 at 9:58 am
This is wrong but all of them do it. Why are Spratt & Clyburn not mentioned? Is this a Democrat vast left wing conspiracy?
By CNSYD March 4, 2010 at 11:53 am
WorkingTommyC, I bet real estate agents and car salesman line up at your home and office. They would love to sell you something that you never even look at. You just listen to what they tell you and/or read “reports” and then write them a check. Dumbass. As you obviously don’t know, the three parted government is set up to have checks and balances. Congress has the power to appropriate funds so it is their responsibility to make sure that what the Executive says it needs and why is factual. You would be the first to raise hell if they didn’t do that.
By Moniker Lewinsky March 4, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Y
By WorkingTommyC March 4, 2010 at 2:09 pm
CNSYD:
How do we, the people know what’s going on all over the world? We rely on reports and such all the time. Do you yourself have to physically observe where your fecal matter goes once you flush the toilet to know how the sewer system works?
Does it take smelling and stepping in the human fecal matter on some street in Kabul to know that giving away taxpayer money in “rebuilding” foreign countries is unconstitutional? Dude! DIG IT! There’s a document you can read right here in this country that can tell you that!
If you really think their traveling all over the world is necessary and/or done for OUR benefit, you’re at least lying to yourself. Further, if you believe what those politicians tell you when they come back, you’re a hopeless case. What could they see over there that could possibly make a difference? How long would it take to go and really learn the country to be able to come back and give any sort of expert testimony? GET REAL! THEY CAN’T DO IT IN A FEW DAYS, A FEW WEEKS, NOR, IN ALL PROBABILITY, EVEN A FEW MONTHS. With dopes like Wilson and others, they probably couldn’t do it in years!
How about they trust (or not) their generals and diplomatic resources already there plus whatever other information they can obtain. If they really were serious about studying what’s going on, they can find out more from doing that and looking at the money trail and other statistics than any goggle-eyed jaunt into a sand and rock infested hellhole.
In addition, those jerks in Congress don’t know nor care what’s really going on HERE but it never seems to stop them from doing whatever they want to do that benefits them politically. One such example was when Hitler Youth boy Joe Wilson voted for the fascist TARP bill.
And, in case you didn’t notice, I don’t mind if they go over there on their own if they want to and think that it is absolutely necessary in the performance of their duties–which it is not. I’m just saying there’s no justification for the taxpayers paying for it.
So, in the words of the immortal Captain James Tiberius Kirk, “DOUBLE DUMBASS ON YOU!”
Geez! Is there no one here as cynical as I am?
By Elmer March 4, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I just wish more of these politicians would camp out in Afghanistan and Iraq for a few months each year and watch where our money is being spent. That is where we are pissing away the most money on a per country basis. I would be ok if congress even had open sessions in Iraq to show us all how much progress we have made over there with our billions and billions of dollars. Let them bring home some much deserved trinkets after a 2 month stay in the Middle East.
By CNSYD March 4, 2010 at 2:38 pm
WorkingTommyC, why is it auditors go to the field and inspect the evidence? Can’t they just go by what the people in the field tell them? Surely you can believe them as they would never flower their reports to paint themselves or the situation in a good light, would they? If the field workers say they need more money, just send it to them, right? IRT whether an expenditure or statue is in accordance with the Constitution is a matter for the Judicial branch. Says who? Well that would be the Constitution. Your non learned position matters not.