Wow. The bullshit detector has been way up the dial this week. So, when I read this article today I was floored. Apparently California lawmakers racked up over $2 million in travel over a two and a half years. That’s not the big problem. The fact that they claimed that the travel was protected for security reasons…um, I says pardon?
From San Francisco Chronicle:
The AP requested lawmakers’ air travel itineraries and the associated cost to taxpayers as part of an ongoing examination of legislative spending and disclosure requirements. The Legislature said it would not provide original documentation of lawmakers’ air travel, meaning there is no way to independently determine where they flew or for what purpose.
When pressed for records that would give lawmakers’ destinations and prove that all flights were for business related to state government, the Legislature refused to provide them.
So, the people’s representation eh? Well, that certainly goes a long way to explaining some things…like the debt.
(Image used under CC bredgur)