National - More "Me First"
Rich...@hotmail.com
http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2009/12/29/ministers-get-pay-rises-despite-freeze/
Yet again we see John Key lying to cover National MPs yet again
shoving their snouts in the trough.
The reality is that John Key has riden roughshod over the Remuneration
Authority - the independent body set up by parliament to set MPs
remuneration. Not only that, but he has removed controls that ensured
that the money is being used to reimburse actual expenses.
If he had really meant his call for restraint, it would have been
possible for his new rules to have stated that no MP could receive
more than they had under previous rules, but no, the desire was to
increase costs to the taxpayer to benefit Ministers.
(and as far as the 2005 decision one poster complained about; National
could have intervened with that as well if they didn't like it - but
the Nat-bots think anything can be justified by looking for an
increase in remueration from the past.
At the time he made the statement he must have known about and agreed
to the changes in rules. That makes his statement about restraint a
lie to the public..
The Remuneration Authority will have an interesting job adjusting the
pay for Ministers whent hey next do a review. I hope they recognise
the rort and reduce bae salaries to compensate.