Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Legislature / Woods Tax-and-Spend Lawmakers: The Per Diem Rip-off
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Rep. Carr didn't think twice about pushing his own bill in the last session demanding Gov. Bredesen not accept federal stimulus funds for extended jobless benefits for his district's growing unemployed. Now that Rep. Carr needs a stimulus of his own, he's off to collect his directly from the taxpayers.Even for the jaded Pith, this hypocrisy is hard to stomach.
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Bill Ketron needed to stay over in Nashville a lot since he and Jack Johnson were busy every night with Piedmont and Atmos Energy officials trying to deregulate them so they could charge us whatever they wanted. Just look at the contributions they made to Ketron and PACs. Ketron's financial disclosure looks like the whos who of special interests not to mention the fortune funneled to him through PACs.
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Remember, folks, that the PER DIEM allowance was created specifically for paying for the hotel and meal expenses borne by out-of-town lawmakers - those who come in from long distances and have to stay and eat away from home.
Lawmakers ALSO have a part-time salary, full health benefits and a "home office allowance" to cover normal expenses.
For any lawmaker who lives within 40 miles of Nashville, collecting per diem payments is a real abuse of Tennessee taxpayers. It is legal, but it's wrong.
