Posted by
Mark on Sunday, September 09, 2007 9:38:48 PM
California Assemblyman Ted Gaines continues to pad is wallet while accepting the $165 per day, approximately $35,000 a year in per diem. Remember this is above his $135,000 a year salary, a free car, a free gas card, plus free maintenance on his car. Mr. Gaines is not committing an illegal act. However, one must question his character by his actions.
The California State Assembly, Office of the Chief Clerk, defines per diem as “Literally means per day. It is the daily expense money rendered to legislators to help defray additional living expenses, such as maintaining a second residence, incurred as a result of holding office.”
Mr. Gaines lives in Roseville. That means he drives roughly 20 miles to the capital. I do not believe Ted has 2 homes in Roseville. Is it possible that Ted is using the per diem, our tax dollars, to pay for a vacation home in Lake Tahoe? Maybe he is using the per diem to pay for a big boat payment.
Other members of the California Legislature who live near the capital do not accept the per diem. Some of these members are liberal Democrats. Ted Gaines says he is conservative. Maybe he is conservative. However, it is hard to call yourself a conservative when you support the California Teachers Association and oppose charter schools. I will have additional information on the charter school issue at a future posting. However, he is very liberal when it comes to spending our tax dollars that go directly into his wallet.
Now Mr. Gaines wants to be a Congressman for the 4th Congressional District. Can we trust this man in Washington who has shown us that he does not have the character to serve in the California Assembly?
There has been a lot of talk about earmarks. While many earmarks are a waste of our tax dollars, some do benefit local districts or the country. However, I would still like to eliminate all earmarks. Senator John McCain does not sponsor any earmarks. Last December, Ted Gaines’s Chief of Staff told me that Ted was making a huge sacrifice serving in the assembly. That is why he is accepting the per diem. If Ted Gaines became a Congressman, would serving in Congress become a larger sacrifice? How many earmarks would Ted sponsor so he could snuggle up to the lobbyists? Congressman John Doolittle did not help himself with his relationship with lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Because of the sacrifice Ted Gaines said he is making in the California Assembly, how would he stand up to all the temptations that led to Congressman Duke Cunningham going to jail and Congressman Jefferson keeping $90,000 in his freezer?
Mr. Gaines displayed his lack of character by accepting the per diem that is used to defray travel costs to the capital. Mr. Gaines does not have any travel costs. Maybe Mr. Gaines should sponsor legislation that would provide every state worker living in Roseville or beyond, $35,000 a year to drive to the capital. For the record, I am not a state worker. I work in the private sector.
Mr. Gaines says that the voters have lost faith in Congressman Doolittle. Maybe they have. Maybe they should look at other Republicans that have or will jump into the race. Why would the voters want to replace a Congressman who may have committed some unethical actions with a person that we know shows very little character?
Mr. Gaines, go back to your insurance business and quite acting like a liberal politician while you use our tax dollars to pad your wallet.