-By Vince Johnson
This scoop brought to you by G. R. Vince Johnson, Veteran WW II and Korea
On June 3, 2009 Speaker Nancy Pelosi requested the Statement of Disbursements for the House of Representatives be published online as part of her continued commitment to increase governmental transparency and accountability. You can use the surfing info appearing above the red line to review and evaluate these disbursements.
The report consists of 3,379 pages listing details of disbursement made by the House of Representatives during July, August and September 2009. (4th Quarter of Fiscal 2009)
Pages 2801, 2802 and 2803 list the names, titles and salaries for 87 professional staff members on the Committee on Financial Service Chaired by Barney Frank. Total salaries paid during the 4th quarter were $2,080,547 which means the average annual salary for each staff member on Barney Frank’s committee is $95,657. Example: Thomas G. Duncan, General Counsel received $42,674 in salary during July, August and September 2009. This amounts to a salary of $170,696 a year. (Barney’s annual salary as a Representative is $174,000.)
Rent for the Committee’s office space for the 4th Quarter was $55,297 or $221,188 a year. This means salaries and rent for Barney’s committee comes to $8,543,376 a year. Please note that this does not include outlays that annualize into the millions for travel, printing, transportation, taxi, lodging, bottled water, etc.
Barney Frank also has his own staff consisting of 22 members receiving $323,152 in salary during the 4th Quarter of 2009. This comes to an average annual salary of $58,754 per staff member. Example: Maureen P. Falo, Legislative Counsel received $20,956.26 in salary during the 4th Quarter. This comes to $83,824 a year.
Page 3053 indicates $39,280 paid in the 4th Quarter as “Personnel Benefits” for “Attending Physician” and $195,577 for Supplies and Materials. Among the “Supplies” listed on page 3059 was $27,790 paid on 9/29/09 to “SANOFI PASTEUR” a maker of Flu Vaccine. Another item listed on the same page was $54,878 paid to “DFAS ROME” on 9/18/09 for “Medical Supplies.” (DFAS = Defense Finance and Accounting Service) If you are asking why the Attending Physician of the House uses the Defense and Finance Accounting Service to buy medical supplies , we’re both on the same page and it is loaded with questions, amazement, and outright disgust. What’s this “House Attending Physician” all about anyway?
If you think the Committee on Financial Service knows how to spend money, look up the Joint Committee on Taxation Chaired by Charles Rangel and see how he does it. Before reviewing this one, some of you might consider discussing this undertaking with your cardiologist. I didn’t, but that’s OK. I always have my nitro handy and it worked.
Incidentally, page 194 lists disbursements to Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, the House Chaplain, in the amount of $172,000 which I assume includes a salary for an Administrative Assistant. I’m mailing him a copy of this with the request he will consider my suggestion for a brief opening prayer at a time when House attendance is at least 95%:
“Dear Lord in Heaven, please forgive these honorable souls who do not have time to explain to our children why it is fair and ethical, to borrow more trillions from their future than they will ever be able to re-pay. Amen.”
Note to: The Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, Chaplain, U.S. House of Representatives – U.S. Capitol, Room HB25, Washington, DC 20515-6655 Thoughtful review of this request appreciated.
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Vince Johnson welcomes comments. Please send them to,Vince Johnson(vjadtrak@wvi.com)
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