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When Congressmen break the law by not returning unused travel funds, I bet they are also breaking the law by failing to report that money as income. What does the Congression Republican leadership have to say about this?
1 posted on 03/02/2010 5:26:19 AM PST by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1
If that was the policy, you could never get many members traveling,"

The downside to this would be what?

2 posted on 03/02/2010 5:29:56 AM PST by anoldafvet (As of 12/24/2009, no more democrats elected - ever)
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To: reaganaut1

If employees at corporations broke these rules repeatedly, you can bet they’d be fired pretty quickly if they did not make restitution.


3 posted on 03/02/2010 5:30:34 AM PST by quintr
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To: reaganaut1
“If that was the policy [returning unspent per diem advances], you could never get many members traveling,” said Rep. Solomon Ortiz, a Texas Democrat.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I guess the rationale is, “If you can't embezzle with impunity, what's the point of showing up for work in the first place?.”

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a cash advance.

6 posted on 03/02/2010 5:38:32 AM PST by Mobties
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To: reaganaut1
"If that was the policy, you could never get many members traveling," said Rep. Solomon Ortiz, a Texas Democrat.

Now that's what I call a good start! mebbe Obama meant Hopey, Keep that Changey...and I agree, When Congressmen break the law by not returning unused travel funds, I bet they are also breaking the law by failing to report that money as income. Instead of writing your congressman, write the IRS.

9 posted on 03/02/2010 5:42:13 AM PST by CRBDeuce (here, while the internet is still free of the Fairness Doctrine)
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To: reaganaut1

“If that was the policy, you could never get many members traveling,”

That is the idea - to stop government hacks from traveling.


10 posted on 03/02/2010 5:43:38 AM PST by edcoil (If I had 1 cent for every dollar the government saved, Bill Gates and I would be friends.)
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To: reaganaut1
...but it's not much—maybe 80, 90, or 100 dollars,

Again I am speechless at how out of touch these people are with the middle class. I hate these bloodsuckers.

11 posted on 03/02/2010 5:49:32 AM PST by ladyvet (WOLVERINES!!!!!)
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To: reaganaut1

Lawmakers who pocket the change would also include those at the local levels, and it would include staff members who go to seminars and/or training programs. Let’s also not forget that due to some reporting requirements, or non-requirements, booze, special shows on TV, etc., are being paid with tax payer dollars.


12 posted on 03/02/2010 5:53:33 AM PST by LuvFreeRepublic (Support our military or leave. I will help you pack BO!)
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To: reaganaut1
If that was the policy, you could never get many members traveling," said Rep. Solomon Ortiz, a Texas Democrat. Mr. Ortiz said he had never returned any money.

That IS the policy, according to the IRS. Per Diem not used for travel expenses ( and documented with a receipt) is income. This is why most companies reimburse expenses only. Of course, Congress doesn't have to follow the rules they've laid down for the rest of us.

14 posted on 03/02/2010 6:31:51 AM PST by Red Boots
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To: reaganaut1
They make the rules for all us “little people,” but surely we can’t expect them to know all the rules that apply to them.
15 posted on 03/02/2010 6:59:30 AM PST by smokingfrog (You can't ignore your boss and expect to keep your job... WWW.filipthishouse2010.com)
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To: reaganaut1

just mo o’ dat dere Walkin’ Around Money dontcha know...


16 posted on 03/02/2010 7:14:16 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Abathar; Abcdefg; Abram; Abundy; akatel; albertp; AlexandriaDuke; Alexander Rubin; Allerious; ...



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!
View past Libertarian pings here
17 posted on 03/02/2010 7:32:35 AM PST by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: reaganaut1

FIRE THEM ALL.


18 posted on 03/02/2010 7:48:40 AM PST by Danae (Don't like our Constitution? Try living in a country with out one.)
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To: reaganaut1

Claiming that I didn’t know the rules got me a verbal reprimand and some retraining!

$250/day may seem like a lot but I’ve been places where a buffet breakfast was $75.

In the long run it is usually best to grant the per diem and not spend the time and expense of accounting for the nickel and dime stuff. And yes, $100 left over after a week or two of traveling is still nickel and dime and there is more spent in accounting for the $100 than it is worth.

But those aren’t the rules and they should play by the rules.


19 posted on 03/02/2010 7:51:26 AM PST by Eagle Eye (The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.)
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To: reaganaut1

My husband had a government cc and had to turn in receipts for it’s use or anything he spent of our money to justify his travel expenses. No receipt no no allowance and no reimbursement and they would not have reimbursed vases, rugs or paintings.


22 posted on 03/02/2010 8:33:44 AM PST by kalee (The offences we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)
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To: reaganaut1

Sounds like Minnesota. We have one portly little legislator who leads all here in per diem and live about 2 miles from our state capitol.

(democrap, naturally)


23 posted on 03/02/2010 8:39:03 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
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To: reaganaut1

Interesting, when I was in the AF, we were rarely, if ever paid our per diem up front. You could get an advance on your “expected” per diem, up to 80% iirc. Never lodging. You had to provide receipts for lodging, rental car, rental car fuel and anything over $75 that was an approved expense.

Upon your return, you then had to file a travel voucher that showed all of your required expenses, minus meals. Your final per diem amount was then calculated against that voucher. If you had taken an advance and were under, you got the difference, if not, you paid the gov’t back.

Many chose not to take the advance, lower ranks usually did because they didn’t normally have that kind of money.

Why is it so hard for these fools who enacted those rules I just mentioned to follow the same ones?

I know, because they’re “special”.


24 posted on 03/02/2010 8:49:13 AM PST by SZonian (There are times when we have to tell loved ones truths that hurt. We do so because we care for them.)
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To: reaganaut1
Congresscritters have no business travelling outside of this country.

Neither do they have any business travelling anywhere in this country except between their district (notice I did NOT say "home" and Washington, D.C.)

These people think they are royalty and that things (including travel) are owed to them.

I have to plan trips to the grocery store.

Screw these elitists!

27 posted on 03/02/2010 7:25:05 PM PST by elkfersupper (Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: reaganaut1

Per Diem is not considered income by the IRS as long as it is documented properly. I work on serval federal projects overseas, it has never been counted as income. The purpose of Per Diem is so that the IRS doesn’t spend money auditing expense reports.


29 posted on 08/31/2010 10:31:32 AM PDT by Perdogg (Nancy Pelosi did more damage to America on 03/21 than Al Qaeda did on 09/11)
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