Government officials who wonder at the contempt some citizens feel for them should learn from stories such as the one about legal aid officials’ $70 lunches, $14 desserts, $18 breakfasts, $27 snacks and $423 chauffeured rides. Legal Services Corp., the government’s legal aid program for the poor, is changing its liberal expense policies under pressure from Congress and the program’s inspector general, opting to use the expense limits that apply to other federal agencies. “I hope $14 cookies and limo rides around town are a thing of the past,” said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. That won’t even things up with poor Americans who’ve been turned away from a cash-strapped legal aid office, but it’s a start.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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25 Comments
You know government programs, it’s just expected.
The members of Congress that have made noise over this issue are Charles Grassley R-Iowa, Rep. Chris Cannon R-Utah, and Sen. Michael Enzi R-Wyo.
Wonder where the Democrats are over this? Or is this just considered business as usual?
Dats is, Jose, Make a partisan thing out of it first thing in the am. Haven’t had my coffee yet, and I’m already hated by the neo-cons. Tell me, do you put tobasco on your sweet rolls as well?
I have no clue what your talking about. I’m just posting the facts and asking a legitimate question.
I’m not a neo-con either.
Better get your coffee first.
Basically Walker! It’s just a taste of your own medicine. You and the other Dems love any chance to make a partisan attack on any subject matter, but when somebody dishes it out back to you, it’s all foul and not right?
It so funny you guys are so condescending that you cannot accept nor tolerate any critisim of your political party. I understand you feel that you are superior and the Democrat Party is entitled to government positions, because they are the superior party, but face it! You guys aren’t any difference than anybody else.
If you can’t ride the critisim, then don’t remark about it.
Joe, if you ain’t neo, MLK was white and Hillary ain’t got no political asperations.
The dems will always keep their mouths shut when it comes to minorities, lawyers and the teachers union!
V.L.R.B!!
Here’s Whishing Everyone a Very WHITE Christmas!!
Sheeeit. There are people here who make EVERYTHING partisan… Joe is simply stating the facts.
I have bemoaned the fact many, many times that not everything that happens in this country is a result of partisan politics, and that not every bad thing that happens is solely the responsibility of one political party.
And, of course, I get assailed for even suggesting that one party could be anything less than perfect.
Maybe this could serve as a wakeup call to reality…there are crooks in politics..regardless of political affiliation.
Raptor: I recall a former Kansas City city manager, L.P. Cookingham, giving a speech back about 1962 in which he said, “There is no Democrat or Republican way to patch a hole in the street.” I don’t know if he originated that saying but I have heard it paraphrased many times since.
So I agree with you — not every issue boils down to liberal or conservative way. Its more important to do things as correctly as possible, with adequate input from those paying the bills, with final decision by experts in the field.
For example, I apply this to the so-called “green” or environmental issues. These issues are threatening our society and the “left wing and right wing” tags are counter-productive.
NOtice that all the liberals DID NOT address the waste and the effect on the poor and disadvantaged. Their first response was to go after Joe and do character assination. Lable hem, call him names, do anything but respond to the statment and the fact that a program the Dems love to trot out and make the Republicans seem like meanies are pissed when they are shown to literally “stealing candy from babies, (actually stealing milk from babies).
The democrap line, “DON’T JUST SIT THERE BLAME SOMEBODY (Republicans)DON’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, make it a political statement.
What about the expensive extravaganza which is denying American Poor the legal assistance for which the program was developed?
yeah, what about it?
Ok so I didn’t even know these things were happening. I’m very glad something is being changed. However, why did it take all this time for REPUBS to do something about it. Afterall, they’ve been the ones with the power. So you can’t turn this around on the dems, they haven’t even taken office yet.
And I bet if you dig a little bit further, you’ll find a dem DID address it once, and was probably shot down only to have repubs reintroduce the bill as their own.
That happens a lot too you know.
I also wish to ask, will this also be true of all government agencies? Will those who do death penalty cases get cheaper hotels and cheaper services too? Will congress and judges and lawyers who use taxpayer monies for things like this also be affected. I have to wonder why legal aid was the only one chastised here.
Cause we’re too busy being pissed at the Connie Morris taxpayer provided vacations.
Further proof that our government should be SMALLER and focus on FEWER things. Where should the government NOT be…Let me count the ways:
EducationHealthcareAgricultureBusinessAnything governed by the free market.
Nut, good luck with that.
Fascism is a radical political ideology that combines elements of authoritarianism, nationalism, militarism, corporatism, anti-liberalism and anti-communism.
Tracy,It’s almost Christmas – A guy can dream, can’t he?
Unh, Tracey, what golfnut was promoting is as far removed from facism as it gets.
His proposal is not one of the listed elements you posted, not one.
CORPORATISM.(business)
Dream away Nut.I agree with you.
A little anarchy could be a good thing.
Just one day and some summary personal justice on the goofnut is a rather pleasing idea……
It was the democratic party that went after waste, started programs to help the poor, have been trying for decades to even the playing field between the rich and the poor, and have been against, for the most part, invading every country the republicans don’t like.
Like any other group, we have our problems. Unlike the republicans, we don’t get 3000 of our troops killed in some foreign country over some tin-pot dictator. Big difference between death and taxes, ain’t there, Joe.
Education: People should be guaranteed a basic education. It is in the best interest of this country to make it happen.
Healthcare: With the expense of health care, if government were not involved, only the wealthy could afford health care.
Agriculture: Farmers are going to grow what will make them money. However, they will also over grow products causing too much of one, say wheat, and not enough of another, say milo. Government needs to be involved in order to ensure stable produce, with a decent cost.
Business: Wow, Enron anybody? Without government oversight, enrons would flourish, and pensions would tank.
What golfnot seems to suggest is anarchy.
Look at foreign countries that either place too much control. or not enough, on its country. Like Mexico . . . illegal immagration anyone? . . . or many third-world countries. What you find is corruption throughout the system.
Government oversight, and regulations, are needed to stop those things from happening. This years business crime should make that a no brainer.
Whoever the hell has been in charge should be canned – Republican OR Democrat – or BOTH.
If Republicans are so hellbent on weeding out fraud and waste on government programs, then why have they instituted so many new government programs when they had control of Congress?
No way! The government officials have a paltry salary as it is. They need SOME perks to make the job appear attractive. I mean, why else would someone be a career politician spending millions for his campaign to get a job with a 20k salary per year?
Everytime I call any of our senator or congressman’s offices, they are ‘at lunch’. Why is it that elected officials staff get 2-3 hour lunches??? The working people who pay their salaries could get fired for being late after their 30 min. lunch breaks.