Who Pays for the Meals?

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070426/...l/tory_expenses

Despite sightings of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative cabinet wining and dining around the capital with staff, lobbyists and journalists, their publicly posted expense accounts continue to show a string of zeros under hospitality claims.

That stands in sharp contrast to senior departmental bureaucrats, who routinely file for working lunches, breakfasts and dinners with other government employees and outside contacts.

Government insiders insist that ministers and their political staff are simply digging into their own pockets when it comes to working meals. When the meeting is with a journalist or lobbyists, the outsiders routinely pay the bill.

The result appears to be two classes of government employees: those who list hospitality expenses under "proactive disclosure" and those who do not.

Some of these zero expense claims are suspicious. Last time some ministers claimed nothing, we only heard days later that in fact they did have claims but somehow they didn't make it on to the disclosure list.

[Who's Doing What?]

Maybe, (hopefully) they are paying for meals out of their own pocket.

[jdobbin]

Maybe, (hopefully) they are paying for meals out of their own pocket.

Or lobbyists are paying for all the meals.

Which begs the question of whether ministers can be bought for a dinner at Hy's.

[sharkman]

Okay, J, you gotta be involved in politics with all of these money questions concerning Tory expenses. Next you'll be outraged about breath mint expenditures. Have you wondered who's picking up the tab for coffee? You should look into it!

Edit: I just read your latest comment in the Harper make up thread, and this is not a personal attack, just noticing how much you've been attacking Harper and the Tories.

[Michael Bluth]

Edit: I just read your latest comment in the Harper make up thread, and this is not a personal attack, just noticing how much you've been attacking Harper and the Tories.

It's just an observation. That's why I blocked his posts. Nothing ever constructive in his posts. Just going after Harper no matter what.

[cybercoma]

Oh my God, who pays politicians salaries? Politicians could be using taxpayers money to fund their recreations, such as drinking, smoking and buying sex toys for use with their partners. ALL FROM TAXPAYERS MONIES! I demand to know everything every politician ever buys, whether personal or business related, since their income comes from our taxes.

Furthermore, all teachers, nurses, letter carriers, military personnel, police and doctors should fully disclose everything they purchase.

Lewd and indecent things are possibly being purchased with taxpayers money.

[Michael Bluth]

Oh my God, who pays politicians salaries?

I'm guessing it's the same people who pay jdobbin's salary.

Is it fair game to ask him to account for every dollar?

[gc1765]

Oh my God, who pays politicians salaries? Politicians could be using taxpayers money to fund their recreations, such as drinking, smoking and buying sex toys for use with their partners. ALL FROM TAXPAYERS MONIES! I demand to know everything every politician ever buys, whether personal or business related, since their income comes from our taxes.

Furthermore, all teachers, nurses, letter carriers, military personnel, police and doctors should fully disclose everything they purchase.

Lewd and indecent things are possibly being purchased with taxpayers money.

I think you missed the point.

Nobody in their right minds would have a problem with a politician paying for their own expenses...the question is who is paying for the meals, the politicians or the lobbyists?

[geoffrey]

I think Dobbin has a solid concern here. When politicans stop buying meals, you've got to wonder if the lobbyists are buying all the time.

Personally, I think it all has very little impact on decisions, a meal that is. I've been at dinners with lobbyists and does picking up the tab get you a contract? Not likely.

But when the difference is that dramatic, you've got to wonder.

[Fortunata]

If they are paying for the meals themselves - great, good for them. If the taxpayers are paying and it's not being declared - very, very bad. If lobbyists are paying that just smacks of conflict of interest and all should be asked to resign. They know the rules.

[cybercoma]

I'm glad the lobbyists are saving the taxpayers' money by paying for meals.

[jdobbin]

Okay, J, you gotta be involved in politics with all of these money questions concerning Tory expenses. Next you'll be outraged about breath mint expenditures. Have you wondered who's picking up the tab for coffee? You should look into it!

Edit: I just read your latest comment in the Harper make up thread, and this is not a personal attack, just noticing how much you've been attacking Harper and the Tories.

I couldn't stand the Liberal expense accounts, the idling limos and the entitlements. I am no less concerned now about who picks up the tab for things like lunches and stylists now. Hiding these expenses in departmental accounts is not acceptable. I have no problem if a minister declares his expenses and if they can be justified.

The last time the expense accounts were revealed, some ministers said their costs somehow got left out in favour of zero spending. How did that happen?

[jdobbin]

I think you missed the point.

Nobody in their right minds would have a problem with a politician paying for their own expenses...the question is who is paying for the meals, the politicians or the lobbyists?

It isn't lost on the media when they see ministers having meals at all the Ottawa hotspots and then seeing no expenses claimed. You gotta ask: who is paying and does it buy influence?

[cybercoma]

I'm more concerned with pharmaceutical companies showering doctors with gifts and getting them to use prescription drugs for purposes they were never tested for than politicians having their meals paid for by lobbyists.

[jdobbin]

I'm more concerned with pharmaceutical companies showering doctors with gifts and getting them to use prescription drugs for purposes they were never tested for than politicians having their meals paid for by lobbyists.

I think it is the same pharmaceutical companies taking politicians out to avoid this type of scrutiny.

[cybercoma]

It's a good thing Peter McKay doesn't write prescriptions then.

[Topaz]

I'm more concerned with pharmaceutical companies showering doctors with gifts and getting them to use prescription drugs for purposes they were never tested for than politicians having their meals paid for by lobbyists.

I think it is the same pharmaceutical companies taking politicians out to avoid this type of scrutiny.

On the topic of the drug companies, that why we'll never see the govts, provincial or federal, make the "natural" medication on a even level with the man make medications.

[cybercoma]

"Natural" medication are not on an even playing field. They're not regulated, the scientific studies have not proven their effectiveness and in some cases they can be extremely dangerous. Also when people turn to "natural" medicine instead of seeking professional help, they may be delaying time sensitive diagnosis for serious illness. All those natural medicines, with unfounded claims, should be banned entirely or strictly regulated.

[gc1765]

Natural medications are not regulated, and anyone can have access to them (except for perhaps marijuana) as long as they dont' make any false claims. If you want to make a claim about the effectiveness of a natural drug, you better be able to prove it. I can't go around claiming that dandelions cure cancer, and I see no problem with that. I can, however, go out and pick some dandelions and use them anyways.