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Lip Butter
Posted 10/8/2012 1:39:00 AM

We reacted with disgust when we heard about the 113,000 tax dollars wasted by the provincial government on unused hotel rooms.  Never mind that they said they actually saved money by not taking such a huge entourage.  With more information coming out about government expense accounts, maybe these hi-flyers will become more accountable.  A News Release from the Wildrose Opposition has some disheartening numbers from Premier Redford’s past expenses.  On the list, over $600 for an unused room at the Hotel Giraffe in New York. This is an award-winning boutique hotel close to the Empire State Building.  Their website shows less expensive rooms, but maybe those aren’t good enough.  After all, the Premier did stay in a $900 room in Washington, back in June.  The little expenses actually gall me more than the hundreds of dollars spent on alcohol, like $2.20 for Lip Butter.  I have a note from Doug, asking, “Do these politicians spend even one cent of their own huge salaries on these trips?”  A Toonie for lip butter?  Every feel like your tax money is being disrespected?  Let me know what you think.

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Posted By: Bob Layton  

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  1. Glen S.R. Woytuck posted on 10/08/2012 04:43 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 11:32 AM on 10/08/2012
    We all use lip butter in the winter, but we also pay for it ourselves. We can't even write it off on income tax. Perhaps that should be a measure of whether something can be expensed.

    ie: IF you were paying for it yourself, would it be tax deductible? NO? Then it can't be expensed either.

    Bob replies: Travelling politicians should be allowed to expense reasonable hotels, reasonable meals and reasonable transportation. Everything else should be paid for themselves. Have I missed anything?
  2. MaxM_1123 posted on 10/08/2012 08:40 AM
    Bob; I agree with your comments about this type of spending and the outrage of many readers indicates that most of the general public is fed up with this total disregard for
    the Taxpayer. In my Opinion most Politicians do the same thing, they promise the voters what we want to hear and then break their promises and thumb their noses at us.I don,t know of any Party or Politician that can claim to be totally honest, most of them can,t be trusted, that is the reason so many people chose not to vote; but this is not the solution. I wonder if any Politician ever reads your Blogs ?
    1. Eugene posted on 10/08/2012 06:55 PM
      @MaxM_1123 Maybe what we need is more people to run as independents in our elections. If people are so upset with their politicians, maybe they would vote for someone who would represent them vs representing a party.
    show more replies
  3. Barry posted on 10/08/2012 09:37 AM
    Remember the good old days when it was called Chap-Stik ? Now some marketing hack changed the name and is justification for re-naming it Lip Butter. Tax money disrespected ? Yes.
  4. Dan posted on 10/08/2012 11:32 AM
    The lip butter is a little much. The unused hotel room is poor planning, is she getting to famous. For someone who is running a 43 billion dollar company she should have better planning skills and know when she's coming and going. All government employees should have a budget. As Adler would say not born at night etc. we've been down this road before they should have an idea at what the expense budget should be. They choose these jobs now represent us responsibly.
    1. Garry Chubb posted on 10/08/2012 01:11 PM This comment was edited by a moderator at 02:29 PM on 10/08/2012
      @Dan Did you spray a nice cologne around your comment before you wrote it?
      Where is the outrage in your comment......are you even a little ticked off. Really?

      Bob replies: The tone of the replies would indicate I got the message across without getting nasty.
    2. Grace posted on 10/14/2012 02:09 PM
      @Dan Remember you voted her in. You have her for 4 years. So just be happy put up with it and look after it next time if anything is left when her term is up.
  5. Danny K posted on 10/08/2012 11:33 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 11:34 AM on 10/08/2012
    Lip butter is not a requirement to eat at the TROUGH!!!
  6. The Infidel - Mr. John posted on 10/08/2012 11:40 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 02:27 PM on 10/08/2012
    You forgot to mention Bob,...that when she was the Attorney General for Alberta,...that she comped "her" legal fees with the Alberta law society for about $2600.00....

    Bob replies: I'm told tht was legit since she needed it as part of her employment.
    1. Graham posted on 10/08/2012 05:28 PM
      @The Infidel - Mr. John Since when is being a lawyer a requirement for Premier? Bob ... really? She has billed tax payers every year ... including this year ...
  7. DaveN_1490 posted on 10/08/2012 03:04 PM
    This is the reason that I DO NOT vote..Have not in the past 20 years, and will not ever again...Just a total waste of my time....Politicians talk a good line but when it comes down to it, VERY rarely do they ever follow through.....Just a game of Russian Roullete....In which the 6 chambers are filled with 5 shells...Would have better luck with that game....
  8. Monica De Wit posted on 10/08/2012 10:07 PM
    Is it even possible to find an accountable politition these days? This is so maddening! Thank you Bob for keeping us informed!
  9. Leonard posted on 10/09/2012 09:11 AM
    Money for billionaires, Money for high flying Primers, Money for Heath Executives, but very little money for the poor,the old, the sick, and the injured!! What more needs to be said!
  10. Bob $ posted on 10/09/2012 09:21 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 09:25 AM on 10/09/2012
    Just curious Bob,...with this subject,...how many blogs were you NOT able to print! LOL

    Bob replies: Many, including yours, were very clever but not printable. LOL
  11. Big John posted on 10/09/2012 09:23 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 09:26 AM on 10/09/2012
    We need a new agency,....non-governmental. TROUGH PATROL!

    Bob replies: I'd like to see a citizens oversight council.
    1. Big John posted on 10/09/2012 10:00 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 11:55 AM on 10/09/2012
      @Big John There is.....it's called The Canadian Taxpayers Asssociation....who I am proud to support. Scott Henning for Premier. I don't think he would run....he is too moral and with imbedded scruples!
  12. Ron posted on 10/09/2012 06:44 PM
    I agree the comment about reasonable expenses for travel. The real reasons for these trips seems to be getting clouded under the banner of promote Alberta.
    Maybe we could insist Premier Redford disclose who she met with on these junkets and have her share the minutes of those meetings? If they are talking about full disclosure, then don't just give us half the story.
    1. The Infidel - Mr.John posted on 10/10/2012 09:50 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 10:17 AM on 10/10/2012
      @Ron I totally agree. Redford disclosed the rest of her $500,000.00 expense report, but really said nothing. The figures are just "summaries" of what was spent, not the actual receipts.
      Like the travelling musicians bills....what did they spend on who,...rooms, meals, how many people,...where did they perform,...what was the purpose of taking them there?
      I truly believe this is the "shrouded in clouds" type of expense reports we will see posted on line whenever they "bless us" with these expense reports in the future.....saying something without actually saying anything!!!
      Smoke screen heaven!
  13. Speakingout_9410 posted on 10/10/2012 04:17 PM
    All of Alberta's citizens should be disgusted with levels of idiocy that is the Alberta Political scene and what they are doing with our dollars!!!!! Expensing lip butter and muffins and whatever they can hook us for.

    Why would it take a party of 29 people to promote Alberta at a event that very few Albertan's will ever make it too or can only dream to make it too?

    Wasting the taxpayers money is wasting the taxpayers money...period...no acceptable excuses.

    $113,000 could have been used to hire a few good people and/ or inspectors, could have saved a couple of jobs too!!

    Thoroughly disgusted and disgusting.
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