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Link only - U.S. House limits info on auto-leasing perk

January 2, 2009 Workers Ordered to Give Up City-Owned Cars By MICHAEL BARBARO Economic hard times are about to hit New York City’s employees where it hurts: in their driveways. As the Bloomberg administration scrambles to cut spending, it is ordering city agencies like the police, parks and health departments to give up nearly 700 city-owned cars, a cherished perk for their workers. The move would save $20 million over the next two years, according to a copy of the memorandum sent to city agencies. The decision to sell off scores of Toyota Prius cars and Ford Escape sport utility...

RANGEL DOUBLE-DEAL$REAPED DC HOME PERK WHILE BENDING APPLE RENTAL RULES By ISABEL VINCENT and JILL CULORA Last updated: 1:16 am November 23, 2008 Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel took a "homestead" tax break on a Washington, DC, house for years while simultaneously occupying multiple rent-stabilized apartments in New York City, possibly violating laws and regulations in both cases. The situation raises a number of potential problems for the congressman, including: * New York City law requires that tenants use rent-stabilized apartments as their primary residence. * DC's real Property Homestead Deduction Act also requires that a property receiving the benefit be...

SACRAMENTO - Last year, prison guards received ``fitness pay'' worth $33.2 million -- nearly a sevenfold increase from 1999 -- even though they're no longer required to even take a physical fitness test, much less pass one. The guards' union proclaims its members walk the toughest beat in the state, but the cost of their contract has been under mounting scrutiny because the state is relying on borrowing billions to balance the books. Legislative critics complain about what they call overly generous salary provisions, and say that point is brought home by a close look at the fitness pay given...

China begins to cut back on its 3.5m fleet of 'perk' cars By Richard Spencer in Beijing (Filed: 02/03/2004) China is "reforming" its 3.5 million-strong fleet of official cars, the government announced yesterday, giving a fresh insight into the privileges lavished on Communist Party officials. The state pays for the running of a car for every 20 members of the party, at a cost of more than £20 billion - more than the government pays on health care - according to the state news agency, Xinhua. Central authorities are now trying to find ways of preventing officials using government cars...

<p>Former Assemblywoman Sally Havice, a full-time college professor, got a doubly sweet deal from a recent appointment by Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson: Her new side job pays $99,000 per year and could bolster her pension substantially.</p> <p>Havice, 65, is paid for both jobs with public funds, receiving a combined $166,736 per year as an English and speech instructor at Cerritos College and as a consultant on higher education issues to Wesson's office.</p>