Letter to the Editor - Reconnect the discussion between taxpayers and lawmakers

The Washington Post reported on June 4, 2024:

“More than 300 [U.S.] House [of Representative] lawmakers were reimbursed at least $5.8 million for food and lodging while on official business in Washington last year under a new taxpayer-funded program that does not require them to provide receipts.”

  As a former legislative aid on Capitol Hill, we always provided travel, food, and lodging receipts. It was good government. The costs were public information. It was communicating with taxpayers it matters what ‘bills’ get paid with their taxes. It enabled a serious discussion whether taxpayers wanted to pay those receipts.

  Not requiring “receipts” leaves taxpayers scratching their heads asking “Why not?” It disables that necessary accountability discussion between taxpayers and their U.S. House Representatives.

House lawmakers saw no need for “receipts” for “Rubbergate” in 1992 and what happened? The General Accounting Office found House members “bounced” 8,331 checks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single year. GAO found 66 worst offenders wrote about 20,000 “rubber” checks totaling $10,846,856. The disconnect discussing accountability cost House lawmakers their jobs at reelection.

Time for a GAO audit of the $5.8 million for food and lodging in 2023. The audit should include 2024. It’s past time House lawmakers provide receipts, discuss the ‘taxpayer-funded’ program with constituents, and hear from constituents whether the program should even exist.

John Metzger is a nonpartisan write-in candidate for House District 2