More Congressional Ethical Abuses

posted at 1:50 pm on September 1, 2010 by

What would you think of an employee who abused his company expense account by pocketing unused travel funds? At the very least you’d agree the employee was dishonest.

Some half dozen employees are currently under congressional investigation for precisely the “little indiscretion” described. You know their employer well: It is the United States government. The employees guilty of the abuse are all members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Congress members from both parties have been abusing their per diem – funds accorded them to cover travel expenses, including meals. When their expenses are picked up by other people, such as foreign government officials or U.S. ambassadors, they are expected to return the unused funds, which ultimately belong to you, the taxpayer.

In many cases, however, they don’t. Some spend the leftover cash on gifts or use it to cover their spouses’ travel expenses. Others merely put the extra money in their pocket. Not that the cash, which can add up to as much as $1,000, is exactly pocket change by most Americans’ reckoning.

Not all lawmakers are so cavalier with your money. One, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), claims that he mails a personal check to the U.S. Treasury after each trip. Since Congress doesn’t keep records of the amount of per diem returned to the government, it is hard to say whether the senator is being forthright.

Other Congress members are openly abusive. Among the most flagrant offenders are Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), former Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), and Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC). In an ironic twist, Rep. Butterfield is – get ready for it – a member of the House ethics committee.

Among the uses to which the money – your money – was put were marble goblets bought in Kabul (Joe Wilson), drinks and gifts for traveling companions (Alcee Hastings), and a $200 painting of a Turkish estuary (Mark Souder). Perhaps the cake taker among the above-named Congress members is Robert Aderholt, who claims he isn’t sure if he keeps the money because doesn’t retain receipts.

The House ethics committee already has its hands full with cases against Reps. Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters. Nor is it clear that the per diem abuses will reach that level.

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I heard today about ortiz from S TX was on the list but not one bit surprised! Gads, I hope this man gets the boot in Nov.! I have a feeling that the ‘name’ will see to it he gets re-elected, but our home will be voting for the r.
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letget on September 1, 2010 at 2:12 PM

This is appalling, of course. I’d almost be willing to fund a whole expat life for these people, however, if that would stop them from voting in Congress. Consider that doing so would be cheaper than the stimulus packages, and would have saved us a lot of trouble in other areas of public policy over the last 19 months.

J.E. Dyer on September 1, 2010 at 2:18 PM

Joe Wilson should be put in prison for spending under $12 of his per diem while he was in Afghanistan on 6 tacky $1.60 goblets he gave to some Vets and/or their families. Or maybe whomever goes over the books could say – “hey Joe – you owe the taxpayers around 12 bucks for those tacky chachkies you flagrantly bought with your per diem”

Nah, string him up in our moral equivalent game.

batterup on September 1, 2010 at 2:40 PM

One, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), claims that he mails a personal check to the U.S. Treasury after each trip. Since Congress doesn’t keep records of the amount of per diem returned to the government, it is hard to say whether the senator is being forthright.

Anyone over at congress heard of cancelled checks? They come with your bank statement every month or if you do online banking, you can see them on your computer.

erp on September 1, 2010 at 2:52 PM

Well holy sh*t an article on Hotair that criticizes both sides of the aisle.

I don’t understand why congress members’ finances aren’t stapled to the front door of their constituency offices.

Financial impropriety like this should be grounds for instant removal from office. With or without pitchforks and torches.

The end.

Dave Rywall on September 2, 2010 at 12:29 PM

As for Joe Wilson – 12 bucks? Spend your own fu*king money on gifts, as*hole.

That the gifts went to vets is irrelevant. Gifts for your mother are pretty special too. Should those be covered by the taxpayer too?

Dave Rywall on September 2, 2010 at 12:31 PM

I’m not so sure I’m ready to skewer them for this. I’d want to know what the rules are for them, and how clearly they’ve been enunciated. I’ve had employers who made it an open policy that if we didn’t spend all of our per diem, we could keep the leftovers. That was partly because there were times when our per diem didn’t fully cover our expenses; so it all evened out.

The real problem here is that they are ALLOWED to have ANY money spent on them by lobbyists, etc. I remember when I worked for a DOD contractor, military personnel who came to visit us weren’t allowed to accept so much as a donut without paying for it. Are legislators less corruptible?

RegularJoe on September 2, 2010 at 4:38 PM