Here is a link to a posting by David Freedlander over at Politics NY about Congressman Eliot Engel being cleared by a House ethics committee over the use of his per diem travel payments. The article states that "A Wall Street Journal report last year uncovered how some members of Congress used daily cash stipends even though many of their costs were picked up by foreign governments and U.S. embassies, leaving lawmakers with leftover funds. Leftover per-diem money was often used for shopping or to cover spouses' travel expenses and there are no rules about members of Congress returning leftover travel funds." The ethics panel concluded that "there is insufficient evidence to determine with any degree of certainty that any one of the Members were provided an amount of per diem that was not necessary for their respective trips." UPDATE: Daily News reports that Congressman Engel spent $70,000 to defend a charge of improperly spending $700.
Here's an ethics problem: Although Engel keeps an apartment in Riverdale, his real residence is the house he lives in with his family in Potomac, Maryland. Here's how the Daily News reported it in 2009:
ReplyDeleteDaily News
Friday, March 13th 2009
BRONX REP. ELIOT ENGEL CALLS MARYLAND HOME FOR TAX BREAK
Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel may call himself a life-long Bronx resident, but he has also called Maryland his primary residence for years to get a local tax break that state officials have just squashed.
Engel, who rents an apartment back in his district, also owns a $1 million house with his wife in the well-off Washington suburb of Potomac, Md. - a property that has been afforded $7,000 in tax breaks since he bought it in 1993, The Associated Press reported.
To get the state and county paybacks, he had to list the property as his primary residence on county tax records - running afoul of Maryland tax collectors.
Engel insists he's just trying to play by the rules.
"My house is currently classified as 'nonowner-occupied.' I have never asked for any special privileges for being a congressman," he said.
A county tax official said Engel won't have to pay back the $7,000.
READ MORE: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/03/13/2009-03-13_bronx_rep_eliot_engel_calls_maryland_hom.html
Nice photo ... Prematurely embalmed?
ReplyDeleteThey guy has been in office too long. Let's bring on Jeff Klein to replace Eliot Engel.
ReplyDeleteThat Fox News photo caption should say:
ReplyDeleteELIOT ENGEL (D)
MARYLAND REPRESENTATIVE
It's amazing that this guy is still in office. He is a mediocre representative at best, and hasn't lived in the district for years. Speaks to the ignorance of most voters. Maybe he will be redistricted out? Almost happened 10 years ago.
ReplyDelete