WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is directing that congressional expense reports be placed online, changing a laborious paper-only process that has been in place for more than 100 years.
In a letter sent Wednesday to the chief administrative officer of the House, Pelosi wrote that the current method "does not allow all interested parties to review the information" on how each representative uses expense money.
Currently, researchers must comb through huge volumes of paper expenditure reports, filed in varying methods depending upon the office.
The Democratic leader is not yet announcing a timeline. Instead she is pushing for an online expenditure process at "the earliest date."
This comes as members of the British Parliament are under heavy criticism after reports that they have used taxpayer dollars for personal expenditures, including moat cleanings and second homes.
From CNN Politics
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100 years???? Don't you think Pelosi is right and we should use a little more modern method??? What's taken so long to do this? If people don't know how to use a computer by now...well...retire
England is ousting their spendthrift politicians.... what are Americans doing??
Liberals are defending Obama's $24,000 dinner-date at the taxpayers expense calling it a "perk".
Ramming pork-laden bills through congress without giving folks time to ACTUALLY read the bills.
Promising $50 Billion in foreign aid while our debt and deficit balloon wildly.
AMAZING when you consider England is much more liberal than America (historically). Well – I guess this is the "Change" Obama promised, eh?
This would be a great thing, but it will be a cold day in hell before the Congress goes along with an online – instant view of their expenses. They are afraid of the political fallout that is certain to occur.
I wish she would also have all of the pork barrel stuff they stick in bills to hide them placed on-line as soon as they are requested so the public could see how they propose to waste our taxdollers before they actually do it and give us the chance to comment.
Of course, neither one of these would happen in this "tranparent" administration.
Nancy Pelosi proposing something within the realm of common sense?
Knock me over with a feather.
Yes Nancy, how much does it cost for the Air Force to fly you and your family and friend around the country? Let's see if that expense goes on-line.
More transparency. Yes! Thank you Madame Speaker!
How many stock photos do you have for this woman?
I've seen this horrible picture at least five times.
Why do these people have expense money?? We're in a recession they need to make cuts and quit wasting our hard earned dollars. Are her numerous private jet flights going to be listed? What about her facelifts, are we paying for those?
Good Job Nancy.
Keep it Up. You have our support.
Keep the Republicans on the Run.
Put Cheney and Bush in Jail.
Good for her. Now lets see what Newt says!
Where is this liar's apology to the CIA? I don't care to hear anything she has to say until this is done.
I'll believe it when I see it. I don't believe anything that comes out of this woman's mouth anymore. She made a serious charge against the CIA and now she doesn't want to talk about it anymore. Hmmm.....
it's getting closer to election time. let the games begin.
Another example of her value add to this country!
She is everything that is wrong with politics
The Washington Politicians including the Prez should think of themselves as the Nations salespeople same as in a company where
the salespeople get reimbursed by handing in their expense acccount with receipts and all.....and only company business not personal...
Pelosi should do by exsample and hand in expenses starting with the trip to Italy.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hypocritical Repukes and Dems waste money on the franking privilege sending us all junk mail at our expense so they can boost there name identification. In this way, we already have taxpayer-funding campaigns, but only for incumbents.
The Washington Politicians including the Prez should think of themselves as the Nations salespeople same as in a company where
the salespeople get reimbursed by handing in their expense acccount with receipts and all.....and only company business not personal...
Pelosi should do by exsample and hand in expenses starting with the trip to Italy.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...print out
The Washington Politicians including the Prez should think of themselves as the Nations salespeople same as in a company where
the salespeople get reimbursed by handing in their expense acccount with receipts and all.....and only company business not personal...
Pelosi should do by exsample and hand in expenses starting with the trip to Italy.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...print out..Cnn are you out of ink ?
Forget about automation, let the public and the press have access to all the expense reports and the press will "automate" "summarize" and "publish" all the expenses - especially the $100,000 a week that Nancy pelosi spends to fly home on a fully staffed private military jet
Its funny how Pelosi it trying to use this issue to get past her bizarre news conference where she blamed the CIA for lying to her.
I would think issues of torture are more important than expense reports.
GREAT IDEA! Do it – NOW!
Hey "Jimmy the Geek"...How 'bout all them 6 week vacations by Bushie to clear shrubs – How much did all those trips cost Bozo? Whatta moron...
Jimmy the Greek June 3rd, 2009 2:46 pm ET
England is ousting their spendthrift politicians…. what are Americans doing??
Liberals are defending Obama's $24,000 dinner-date at the taxpayers expense calling it a "perk".
Ramming pork-laden bills through congress without giving folks time to ACTUALLY read the bills.
Promising $50 Billion in foreign aid while our debt and deficit balloon wildly.
AMAZING when you consider England is much more liberal than America (historically). Well – I guess this is the "Change" Obama promised, eh?
____________________________________________________________
Jimmy the Creek..................Actually, I heard it cost the taxpayers 3 million for Obama's little date. By the time you had up all the expenses such as the Secret Service, the cost of AirForce 1 etc.etc. we American taxpayers get screwed one more time by this President. Of course Obama could care less. He shows that everyday he's in office. Ooooops, the Obama's did pay for the dinner and show out of their own pockets. WOW, how nice of them.
@nicemove
First you do realize that the CIA came out and said they cannot confirm who gave the briefing or the exact content of the briefing, right? And as many have said, being briefed on something is not the same as doing it, authorizing it, or manufacturing justification for it.
@phoenix86
You realize that Nancy never requested tax payer dollars for plane transport. That as 3rd in line to the presidency the speaker of the house whether dem or repub now gets this plane service. She stated she didn't want it, but the Secret Service and DOD overruled her.
She should also push for the truth commission and the eventual trial of Cheney and his cohorts.
Did she lie, or was it really the CIA? Oh, this is about something else.