Posts by Phil Lyth
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What is 'silliness' you ask?
Well, at Parliament, it seems things have developed akin to the (yes, anecdotal) process of boiling a frog. So we started with the premise that MPs should not be out of pocket for hotel accommodation. Then that was extended to renting a flat. Then that extended to, oh if an MP can claim hotel/rent (current max of $160/night for a hotel to annual cap of $24K), then they should be able to claim actual expenses on property they own. And a number rushed out and organised their affairs to suit.
Finally in 2009, John Key announces that Ministers will get up to $37,500 tax-free with no receipts required for a house. The equivalent of adding $55,000 per year to salaries before tax.
If we had a panel of 70 voters, I suspect we would have different maxima in place: certainly allow actual hotel bills, rental costs, but lower caps would apply for owned property.
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Having observed NZ systems from within and without for over 15 years, I'd suggest that the best scrutiny would come from a disinterested panel of regular people. Say 70 voters selected from across the country.
The Ontario Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform provides a useful model of how to select a panel - page 42 ff of the Background Report.
The panel could then determine their procedures and give decisions on what is actually 'fair and reasonable'. Would cut out a lot of the silliness that has developed over the years.
A panel could equally be used for MPs and Ministers claims, and to adjudicate on print and broadcast media.
I have faith in people.
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Still not revealed:
- Ministerial (incl office) expenditure other than on credit cards - ie through the cheque account and through claims
- Backbenchers expenditure and claims
- The various Parl Serv jam jars: Leaders and Research funding etc etcSomeone did point out that all MPs get $14,800 or $300/wk non-taxable to cover a raft of out-of-pocket expenses. PM and Speaker get a bit more.
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Graeme said:
These card are administered by Ministerial Services, but the bill goes to the applicable ministry.
Not so, unless something has changed recently: the bills are paid from Vote:Ministerial Services. Ministry officials travelling with a Minister woud be a charge to the Ministry, yes.
Kyle said:
Presumably ordinary MPs costs while travelling etc are covered by parliamentary services?
Ordinary MPs travel within NZ is paid, and they claim hotel costs (up to $160 per night incl GST for commercial accommodation outside Auckland. Meals and other out-of-pocket expenses are expected to be covered by their pretty reasonable $14,800 expenses allowance.
International travel for MPs using public funds is quite limited.
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@3410, Steve Barnes
Our household hasn't been hooked up to free TV or Sky for many many months now. Makes life a whole lot better and avoids all the cr*p about what to buy as a bonus. We wonder why more people don't do it.
P.
who will re-lurk -
ah, telecommunications is not exempt from Godwin, then?
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no barrier to entry
Lange used to tell the tale of defending a man accusing of breaking and entering a phone box (yes, it was that long ago). Of course he boomed, a phone box is meant to be entered and you could do so without breaking.
Same thing
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Meh, don't want to de-rail the thread this early, but I'm reliably informed that Martin Scorsese has just cast Mel Gibson to headline The Last Martyrdom of Cameron Slater.
Many months ago Craig, I think you said, Make me laugh and I'm your bitch forever.
Seems like you own me tonight and forever.
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all those quotes about The News
We may be a very odd household. We have a TV, we needed a replacement DVD player about August 2009, and we simply didn't bother to hook up the bits that bring broadcast TV in from the antenna.
Life is much better now. About the first thing one of us is remotely missing is the new series of House.
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iPoped
Dang you've got to be quick around here. Lower case 'i' though Ross. You still have 11 minutes to edit.