>300 #House lawmakers were reimbursed ≥$5.2M for #food & #lodging while on official business in Washington last year under a new, #TaxpayerFunded prgm that doesn’t require receipts.
The prgm, which kicked off last yr after a #Republican-led House panel passed it, was intended to make it easier for lawmakers to maintain separate homes in DC & their home districts.
But critics argue that its reliance on the #HonorSystem esp given [#HouseRepublicans dearth of honor] & lack of #transparent record-keeping makes it ripe for abuse.
The reimbursement scheme’s lack of receipt requirements is a “ridiculous loophole … Clearly it becomes very difficult to tell whether or not it’s a legitimate payment & whether it’s proper,” said Craig Holman, a lobbyist for the good govt group Public Citizen.
The prgm has only a few rules: Lawmakers cannot be repaid for principal or interest on their mortgages, they can only get reimbursement for days they’re actually working in or flying to DC, & they can’t ask for more than their actual expenses. They’re also subject to daily spending caps determined by the GSA. They are “strongly encouraged,” but not required, to keep #records of their #expenses, acc/to guidance issued by the #House Cmte on Admin.
An earlier version of this article said that Rep #MattGaetz (R-Fla.) was the reimbursement program's top spender for 2023. That analysis was based on data released by the #House as of last week. But additional data The Post reviewed Tuesday showed that Rep #JackBergman (R-Michigan) was reimbursed for more than Gaetz was.
Amazing. Just amazing. Read this. [Politico]: ‘The 401(k) industry owns Congress’: How lawmakers quietly passed a $300 billion windfall to the wealthy
Greased by lobbying and campaign cash, tax breaks for retirement savings are one thing Congress agrees on. But they also blow out the deficit and add to income inequality. By Benjamin Guggenheim, 04/13/2024 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/13/how-your-401k-ate-the-federal-budget-00150319
Yeah, that is what happens when you steal content from everyone without giving credit or paying for it. Now, everyone is banning your AI bot from accessing their data. Not to mention, the company overhyped its products and is currently dealing with multiple lawsuits for stealing data for training AI.
@nixCraft Turns out that producing mediocre results while bellowing "AI is here to stay!" and "Our next version will be much better!" at people isn't a sound business model. At least, not in my industry. #grifters
@arstechnica This is a pretty insignificant restriction. You can bet your bottom dollar that this sleazy grifter is making use of her jail time to come out fighting with her next scam.
She needs to be barred from running or owning any part of any business - she mustn't be allowed to move any further than burger flipping or janitor responsibilities in her entire life.
As part of "some stuff I'm doing", I'm looking at new housing developments in #Birmingham, UK. Apart from the appalling demise of green spaces and British industry which is being greedily gobbled up by the property #grifters as well as the jaw-dropping prices for what are/were shitty neighbourhoods, I note shoddy energy planning, to boot. Like "electric panel heating" (COP 1.0). For new housing in UK in 2024. A 1-bed £250k flat. WTAF?
"It’s true that many of Clark’s actions defy logic. In key ways, he never fit the mold of a classic con man."
For 5280 magazine, Chris Walker writes about a scam artist who fooled Colorado's business and tech community—and, it turns out, many other businesses and people in the past.