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Former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has plowed through about $1 million in taxpayer dollars in the last two years for an office and staff in west suburban Yorkville, thanks to a little-known perk given to ex-speakers.

Hastert, 68, a lobbyist and business consultant who retired from Congress in 2007, has hired three of his former staffers at salaries of more than $100,000 apiece to run the publicly financed office.

Taxpayers also are paying monthly rent of $6,300 to a company partly owned by three sons of a Hastert mentor and business partner. Other public funds go for an $860-a-month 2008 GMC Yukon leased from a dealership owned by a Hastert friend and campaign donor.

Most of the money went to pay Hastert's employees, all of whom worked for him while he held office. Bryan Harbin, an administrative assistant, now is paid $138,551 a year. Secretary Thomas Jarman earns $116,365, and secretary Lisa Post $101,000.

Travel, too, is on the public dime: airfare, hotels, taxis, tolls, gas, parking and mileage reimbursement for use of private vehicles. According to Hahn, two of the staffers used taxpayer funds to travel with Hastert to Washington last year when a portrait of him was unveiled on Capitol Hill.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/...,640306.story?page=1
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I would not call federal law a 'little-known perk'. Just wait till Nancy gets her turn. The botox injections alone will be a mil. Wink


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Federal law allows former House speakers to maintain a taxpayer-funded office anywhere in the United States for up to five years. The purpose is to "facilitate the administration, settlement and conclusion of matters pertaining to or arising out of" a former speaker's tenure in the House.
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Originally posted by JuanHunt:
Former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has plowed through about $1 million in taxpayer dollars in the last two years for an office and staff in west suburban Yorkville, thanks to a little-known perk given to ex-speakers.

Hastert, 68, a lobbyist and business consultant who retired from Congress in 2007, has hired three of his former staffers at salaries of more than $100,000 apiece to run the publicly financed office.


Ex-speakers... So... Queen Nancy has this perk too, just not yet abused at this point, right?

quote:
Originally posted by JuanHunt: Taxpayers also are paying monthly rent of $6,300 to a company partly owned by three sons of a Hastert mentor and business partner. Other public funds go for an $860-a-month 2008 GMC Yukon leased from a dealership owned by a Hastert friend and campaign donor.


Kind of like the one John Conyers' boy was driving? Government-provided Cadillac Escalade

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Originally posted by JuanHunt: Most of the money went to pay Hastert's employees, all of whom worked for him while he held office. Bryan Harbin, an administrative assistant, now is paid $138,551 a year. Secretary Thomas Jarman earns $116,365, and secretary Lisa Post $101,000.

Travel, too, is on the public dime: airfare, hotels, taxis, tolls, gas, parking and mileage reimbursement for use of private vehicles. According to Hahn, two of the staffers used taxpayer funds to travel with Hastert to Washington last year when a portrait of him was unveiled on Capitol Hill. http://www.chicagotribune.com/...,640306.story?page=1


Yadda, yadda, yadda... we expect "great things" from Nancy... time will tell. Wink
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Originally posted by Jennifer:
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At least you are smart enough to recognize that, in reality, there is no difference between Repubs and Dems.

Weak save. Didn't quite think that one through didja juan? Now list all the goodies the ex-presidents and ex-vice presidents get.


And you unfortunately, are not smart enough to figure that out. I bet you think Richard Shelby is a model conservative.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer:
quote:
At least you are smart enough to recognize that, in reality, there is no difference between Repubs and Dems.

Weak save. Didn't quite think that one through didja juan? Now list all the goodies the ex-presidents and ex-vice presidents get.


THAT...was a "save"? seemed more like a deflection and a "Monty Python And The Holy Grail" 'Run away! Run away!' to me... Wink
I have a great deal of admiration for Hastert. When he entered Congress, he had a net worth of less than $200k, including his modest home. When he resigned from Congress, he was worth more than $6million, with homes in DC, Florida, Illinois and a 200 acre retreat in Wisconsin. He acquired most of his wealth in land deals, only a couple of which received scrutiny because of his involvement in legislation that affected the land value. Plus, as a former Speaker, he makes $1million plus per year as a lobbyist. Who says government work doesnt pay well.
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from another post/subject from Juan

Give two examples of the waste of federal taxpayer dollars. Just two, as long as the waste amounts to at least $1 million


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Intelligence is vastly overrated too

You make this demand on another subject/post of me, and then create this post?

Seriously, provide one more example and I will meet your previous requirements. (Actually you will meet it for me).
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Originally posted by LE89:
quote:
from another post/subject from Juan

Give two examples of the waste of federal taxpayer dollars. Just two, as long as the waste amounts to at least $1 million


quote:
Intelligence is vastly overrated too

You make this demand on another subject/post of me, and then create this post?

Seriously, provide one more example and I will meet your previous requirements. (Actually you will meet it for me).


I know not what you are asking of me. Try again.
quote:
Originally posted by JuanHunt:
quote:
Originally posted by LE89:
quote:
from another post/subject from Juan

Give two examples of the waste of federal taxpayer dollars. Just two, as long as the waste amounts to at least $1 million


quote:
Intelligence is vastly overrated too

You make this demand on another subject/post of me, and then create this post?

Seriously, provide one more example and I will meet your previous requirements. (Actually you will meet it for me).


I know not what you are asking of me. Try again.


Hmmm... Your claim of unknowing speaks volumes. Wink

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