Posted by Tina
The president announced today that executives at firms receiving tax dollars would have their pay capped:
** The Obama administration plans to slap a $500,000 limit on annual salaries of top executives at some of the financial firms at the heart of a government bailout program, part on effort to curb public anger over the continued flow of bonuses and perks to the heads of Wall Street firms that have relied on taxpayer money to stay afloat. Washington Post **
While he’s at it the president might want to clean governments house a bit. For instance:
** The House Democratic Caucus spent more than $500,000 in taxpayer money over the past five years for its annual retreats at resorts in Pennsylvania and Virginia. On Thursday, Democrats will head to the Kingsmill Resort and Spa in historic Williamsburg, Va., for the three-day planning powwow. The resort boasts multiple championship golf courses, a full-service spa and six restaurants. The Hill **
What was it Nancy Pelosi talked about when she first took over as Speaker…oh yeah, something about a clean sweep. Great idea! Given the national debt and deficit spending, the utter failure of welfare programs and education to lift people from poverty and dependence, and the failures in oversight that caused the lending crisis, the following perks are also outrageous and represent taxpayer dollars used for perks for our irresponsible lawmakers:
We Need A Congressional End-Dependence Day, Dave Gibson American Chronicle
** The following is a list of perks and allowances given to U.S. Congressmen: Free life insurance *** Subsidized meals in Congressional dining rooms *** 10 haircuts in Congressional barbershop *** Free parking spaces at Reagan National Airport *** Free gym memberships (two separate gyms, one for the House and one for the Senate) *** Staff allowance of $752,400 for each House member *** Staff allowance of $400,000-$2.4 million for each Senator *** Free travel to other countries (+ travel allowance) for so-called ‘Congressional inquiries’ *** Free access to a broadcast studio *** Free fresh flowers from National Botanic Garden *** Free income tax preparation *** Congressional pensions *** Exemption from all parking tickets within D.C. *** Free outpatient hospital care from military hospitals *** 10,000 yearly car allowance (+ driver) *** All of the aforementioned perks are provided by the taxpayers. These are of course, in addition to all of the free meals and vacations provided by lobbyists. House members are also allowed to keep all of the frequent flier miles they rack up on lobby-funded trips, for their personal use. **