Butts and Telford expense claim scandal
I was surprised not to see this already up for discussion (unless I've missed it).
So I thought I would get the ball rolling. :)
The expenses themselves are eye-watering, and a cap is surely necessary. Not as easy to say what that cap should be, though - and I note that the opposition has scrupulously avoided mooting one. And, could be complicated to limit this to political staff as opposed to throughout the public service. The payment of things like real estate commissions and LTT is what takes this beyond the ken of most people when they think of how much a move actually costs. The idea that this should cost less because it was just "down the road", ie., from TO to Ottawa makes sense, intuitively, but does not correspond to what the policy actually covers, which makes the distance travelled probably the least relevant factor correlative to cost.
My question is, "why do taxpayers have to foot the bill and not the Liberal party?"
As scandals go this is small potatoes. It is reflective of a certain mentality. It very much reminds me of Justin's speaking fees. It is allowed under the rules so it's alright.
i've small issues like why should tax payers pay the tax on the transfer of property when they made like a 1/2 million on one home and close to it on another?
it's mind boggling they would would feel so entitled. at the same time not surprising though. the whole bunch reek of it.
after all justin called the royal couple "you guys".
which surprised me how much i enjoyed his doing so.
guess you gotta take good with the bad.
My question is, "why do taxpayers have to foot the bill and not the Liberal party?"
I guess because ministerial staff are considered part of the machinery of government. At the very, very least, the PMO certainly is.
So I don't know why we would expect parties to cover moving costs any more than we would expect them to cover salaries.
i've small issues like why should tax payers pay the tax on the transfer of property when they made like a 1/2 million on one home and close to it on another?
it's mind boggling they would would feel so entitled. at the same time not surprising though. the whole bunch reek of it.
after all justin called the royal couple "you guys".
which surprised me how much i enjoyed his doing so.
guess you gotta take good with the bad.
LOL. Really?
I have been ignoring the royal visit as much as humanly possible. Given my obssessive consumption of US-ian politics, that has been difficult to achieve this weekend. Since the CBC has become, more or less, the media outlet of Kensington Palace.
yup true story!
and now they're (the media) deflecting from justin's oops in protocol and are now hammering Christy' teen age son for putting his hands in his pockets.
let's bully a teen ager so justin can remain shiney is pretty much unforgiveable imv.