House Statement of Disbursements and Senate Statement of Receipts and Expenditures - Revision history

Dschuman at 18:22, November 30, 2011

2011-11-30T18:22:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:22, November 30, 2011
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	*Government Printing Office -- hardcopy or microform available for purchase from GPO, entitled "Report of the Secretary of the Senate, From April 1, 2009 to September 1, 2009" (Senate Document 111-8)		*Government Printing Office -- hardcopy or microform available for purchase from GPO, entitled "Report of the Secretary of the Senate, From April 1, 2009 to September 1, 2009" (Senate Document 111-8)
	*The Senate is planning the digital release of expenses in PDF format starting in November. - See "[http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2011/04/19/senate-expenses-to-be-pdfd/ Senate Expenses to be PDF'd]"  - written by John Wonderlich at the Sunlight Foundation. April 19, 2011.		*The Senate is planning the digital release of expenses in PDF format starting in November. - See "[http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2011/04/19/senate-expenses-to-be-pdfd/ Senate Expenses to be PDF'd]"  - written by John Wonderlich at the Sunlight Foundation. April 19, 2011.
		+	* Senate Finally Publishes Its Spending Online, But Could Do Much Better, [http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2011/11/30/senate-finally-publishes-its-spending-online-but-could-do-much-better/ November 3, 2011]

	== Legislative Authorization ==		== Legislative Authorization ==
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	*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56474.html Republican freshman spending] Politico, 2011		*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56474.html Republican freshman spending] Politico, 2011

−	(g) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go	+	(g) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go

	*[http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/03/study-michael-mccaul-biggest-office-spender-in-houston-delegation-kevin-brady-the-most-frugal/ Individual Member Office Expenses] chron.com, 2010 <br>		*[http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/03/study-michael-mccaul-biggest-office-spender-in-houston-delegation-kevin-brady-the-most-frugal/ Individual Member Office Expenses] chron.com, 2010 <br>

Edunn at 20:48, July 19, 2011

2011-07-19T20:48:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:48, July 19, 2011
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	== Possible Types of Disbursement Stories ==		== Possible Types of Disbursement Stories ==

−	=== Introduction ===	+	=== Introduction ===

−	The following is a list of subject matter on which disbursement data-driven stories could be told. A contextualization of some of these items can lead to greater understanding of the workings of congress; other can be confusing or misleading.	+	The following is a list of subject matter on which disbursement data-driven stories could be told. A contextualization of some of these items can lead to greater understanding of the workings of congress; other can be confusing or misleading.

−	=== ~~Types of Stories~~ ===	+	=== ===

−	~~1. Congressional Staff~~	+	=== Types of Stories ===

−	(a) Comparisons of ~~staff~~ pay	+	Congressional Staff<br>(a) Comparisons of pay:<br> by title<br>

−	*~~by title~~	+	*[http://www.wsbtv.com/news/25949135/detail.html Congress Staffers get Raise in Bad Economy] WSBTV, 2010
−	*~~by gender~~	+	*[http://www.theopenhouseproject.com/2009/12/02/whats-the-average-salary-of-house-staff/ What's the Average Staff Pay] OpenHouse Project, 2009
−	*against the ~~private sector~~	+

−	~~(b) retention rates~~	+	by gender<br>

−	~~(c) which staff are connected to which members~~	+	*[http://www.legistorm.com/blog/obama-s-alleged-pay-gap.html Obama’s alleged pay gap] LegiStorm blog, 2008

−	~~(d) revolving door (staffer --> lobbyist; lobbyist -- > staffer)~~	+	against private sector<br>

−	~~(e) multiple payments (i~~.e. ~~from campaign and from congressional office)~~	+	*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46681.html Staff pay frozen in time] Politico, 2010

−	(f) ~~end of year bonuses? overtime?~~	+	(b) Retention rates <br>

−	~~(g) member retirement bonuses to staff~~	+	*[http://thehill.com/homenews/news/14752-rep-bachmanns-office-has-high-turnover-rate High office turnover rate] The Hill, 2008

−	(h) ~~end-of-year procurement~~	+	(c) Which staff are connected to which members<br> (d) Revolving door (staffer to lobbyist; lobbyist to staffer)

−	~~(i) hiring family members~~, ~~friends, campaign~~ staff, ~~lobbyist relations~~<br>	+	*[http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/07/from-hired-guns-to-hired-hands.html From Hired Guns to hired hands] Center for Responsive Politics, 2011
		+	*[http://www.theopenhouseproject.com/2009/12/07/are-house-staff-salaries-set-to-avoid-the-post-employment-lobbying-ban/ Staff salaries set to avoid lobbying ban?] Open House Project, 2009
		+	*[http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/168709-lobbyists-took-100k-cut-in-pay-to-work-on-the-hill Lobbyists Take Pay Cut] The Hill, 2011 <br>

−	(j) ~~which staff are connected to other staff~~	+	(e) Multiple Payments (campaigns, etc) <br>

−	(k) who is considered a senior staff who must file additional disclosure forms	+	*[http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0611/Reids_top_aide_got_12M_from_Comcast.html Aide gets millions from Comcast] Politico, 2011
		+	*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/40870.html Staffers Moonlight for cash] Politico, 2010 <br>
		+
		+	(f) End of year bonuses? Overtime?<br>
		+
		+	*[http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Himes-staffers-top-Connecticut-congressional-1420285.php Staffer Bonus Pay] Stamford Advocate, 2011
		+	*[http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/7392-for-staff-bonuses-no-dollar-left-behind No Dollar Left Behind] The Hill, 2007 <br>
		+
		+	(g) Member retirement bonuses to staff<br>
		+
		+	*[http://www.legistorm.com/blog/for-some-departing-members-final-two-days-were-for-splurging.html Final days for splurging] Legistorm 2011
		+
		+	(h) end-of-year procurement<br>
		+
		+	*[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703362804576184903976465110.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsTop Payday for some staffers] WSJ, 2011
		+
		+	(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations
		+
		+	*[http://www.legistorm.com/blog/florida-lawmakers-spend-on-luxury-girlfriend.html Lawmaker Spends on Girlfriend Legistorm], 2010
		+	*[http://www.legistorm.com/blog/records-help-flesh-out-details-on-baucus-relationship-with-staffer.html Records flesh out detail about Baucus’ relationship with staffer] Legistorm, 2009
		+	*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46211.html John Boehner adds lobbyist to staff] Politico, 2010
		+
		+	(j) which staff are connected to other staff<br>(k) who is considered a senior staff who must file additional disclosure forms

	<br>		<br>

−	2. Office expenses	+	Office expenses<br>(a) Compare travel costs

−	~~(a) compare travel costs~~	+	*[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124650399438184235.html#mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy Congress’ Travel Tab Swells] WSJ, 2009
		+	*[http://projects.publicintegrity.org/powertrips/report.aspx?aid=248 Who are the top travelers?] Center for Public Integrity, 2006

−	(b) ~~travel~~ boondoggles ~~-- vacations~~	+	(b) Travel boondoggles

−	~~(c) compare mail (USPS vs~~. ~~FedEx vs~~. ~~UPS)~~	+	*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/50957.html Senator returns money for chartered flights] Politico, 2011
		+	*[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124657931514989505.html Travel Reports Understand Cost] WSJ, 2009
		+	*[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126092430041092995.html Congress Travels, Public Pays] WSJ, 2009

−	(d) cell phone usage	+	(c) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)<br>(d) cell phone usage<br>(e) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)<br>(f) political liability expenses

−	~~(e) inappropriate expenses (overcharges~~, ~~bogus charges~~, ~~cheaper sourced products)~~	+	*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/30013.html Pelosi's flowers] Politico, 2009
		+	*[http://thehill.com/homenews/house/142901-congresss-860000-tab-on-bottled-water-targeted-as-wasteful-spending Bottled water] The Hill, 2011
		+	*[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56474.html Republican freshman spending] Politico, 2011

−	(f) ~~political liability~~ expenses	+	(g) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go

−	*~~Pelosi's flowers~~	+	*[http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/03/study-michael-mccaul-biggest-office-spender-in-houston-delegation-kevin-brady-the-most-frugal/ Individual Member Office Expenses] chron.com, 2010 <br>
−	*Bottled water	+

−	(g) ~~look at where bulk/ percentage of offices~~ expenses go	+	(h) expenses for transportation (e.g. car leases, purchases)<br>

−	~~(h) expenses for transportation (e.g~~. car ~~leases~~, ~~purchases)~~	+	*[http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/135095-rep-conyers-reimburses-government-for-sons-use-of-official-car Congressman pays government back after story about car lease] The Hill, 2010

−	(i) ~~buy~~ american	+	(i) Buy american <br>
		+
		+	*[http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/139203-sen-sanders-calls-for-gift-shop-statues-to-be-american-made Senator Demands gift shop flags be made in America] The Hill, 2011

	<br>		<br>

−	3. Other stories	+	Other stories<br>(a) leadership expense funds

−	~~(a) leadership~~ expense funds~~ ~~	+	*[http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_96/-204112-1.html Leadership expense funds not being cut] Roll Call, 2011
		+	*[http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_135/John-Boehner-Expense-Checks-206264-1.html?zkMobileView=true Speaker’s Monthly Tab] Roll Call, 2011

−	(b) former speakers allocation ~~(see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)~~	+	(b) former speakers allocation <br>

−	~~<br>~~	+	*[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million Former Speaker Haster’s perk costs taxpayers $1 million] Chicago Tribune, 2010

−	4. Transformative uses	+	<br>Transformative uses<br>(a) house staff directory<br>

−	~~(a) house staff directory~~	+	*[http://staffers.sunlightfoundation.com/ House Staff Directory] Sunlight Foundation

Dschuman at 21:15, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T21:15:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:15, July 11, 2011
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	<blockquote>REPORTING REQUIREMENT Sec. 2. Section 105(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act 1965 (Public Law 88-454; 2 U.S.C. 104a) is amended-- (1) in the last sentence of paragraph (1), by striking `shall' and inserting `may'; and  (2) by adding at the end the following: `(6) Beginning with the report covering the first full semiannual period of the 112th Congress, the Secretary of the Senate-- ` (1) shall publicly post on-line on the website of the Senate each report in a searchable, itemized format as required under this section; `(2) shall issue each report required under this section in electronic form; and `(3) may issue each report required under this section in other forms at the discretion of the Secretary of the Senate.'.</blockquote>		<blockquote>REPORTING REQUIREMENT Sec. 2. Section 105(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act 1965 (Public Law 88-454; 2 U.S.C. 104a) is amended-- (1) in the last sentence of paragraph (1), by striking `shall' and inserting `may'; and  (2) by adding at the end the following: `(6) Beginning with the report covering the first full semiannual period of the 112th Congress, the Secretary of the Senate-- ` (1) shall publicly post on-line on the website of the Senate each report in a searchable, itemized format as required under this section; `(2) shall issue each report required under this section in electronic form; and `(3) may issue each report required under this section in other forms at the discretion of the Secretary of the Senate.'.</blockquote>
	== Possible Types of Disbursement Stories ==		== Possible Types of Disbursement Stories ==
		+
		+	=== Introduction ===
		+
		+	The following is a list of subject matter on which disbursement data-driven stories could be told. A contextualization of some of these items can lead to greater understanding of the workings of congress; other can be confusing or misleading.
		+
		+	=== Types of Stories ===

	1. Congressional Staff		1. Congressional Staff
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	(j) which staff are connected to other staff		(j) which staff are connected to other staff

−	(k) who is considered a senior staff who must file additional disclosure forms	+	(k) who is considered a senior staff who must file additional disclosure forms

	<br>		<br>

Dschuman at 20:51, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:51:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:51, July 11, 2011
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	(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations<br>		(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations<br>

−	(j) which staff are connected to other staff	+	(j) which staff are connected to other staff
		+
		+	(k) who is considered a senior staff who must file additional disclosure forms

	<br>		<br>
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	(i) buy american		(i) buy american

−		+	<br>

	3. Other stories		3. Other stories
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	(b) former speakers allocation (see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)		(b) former speakers allocation (see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)

		+	<br>

−		+	4. Transformative uses
−	4. Transformative uses	+

	(a) house staff directory		(a) house staff directory

Dschuman at 20:49, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:49:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, July 11, 2011
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	(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations<br>		(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations<br>
		+
		+	(j) which staff are connected to other staff

	<br>		<br>
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	(e) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)		(e) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)

−	(f) political liability expenses	+	(f) political liability expenses

−	*Pelosi's flowers	+	*Pelosi's flowers
	*Bottled water		*Bottled water

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	(h) expenses for transportation (e.g. car leases, purchases)		(h) expenses for transportation (e.g. car leases, purchases)

−	~~<br>~~	+	(i) buy american
		+
		+

	3. Other stories		3. Other stories
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	(a) leadership expense funds		(a) leadership expense funds

−	(b) former speakers allocation (see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)	+	(b) former speakers allocation (see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)
		+
		+
		+
		+	4. Transformative uses
		+
		+	(a) house staff directory

Dschuman at 20:46, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:46:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:46, July 11, 2011
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	(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations<br>		(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations<br>

−		+	<br>

	2. Office expenses		2. Office expenses
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	(e) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)		(e) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)

−	(f) ~~look at where bulk/ percentage of offices~~ expenses go	+	(f) political liability expenses
		+
		+	*Pelosi's flowers
		+	*Bottled water

−	(g) expenses ~~for transportation (e.g. car leases, purchases)~~	+	(g) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go

		+	(h) expenses for transportation (e.g. car leases, purchases)

		+	<br>

	3. Other stories		3. Other stories

Dschuman at 20:45, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:45:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:45, July 11, 2011
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	*against the private sector		*against the private sector

−	(b) retention rates	+	(b) retention rates

	(c) which staff are connected to which members		(c) which staff are connected to which members
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	(f) end of year bonuses? overtime?		(f) end of year bonuses? overtime?

−	(g) member retirement bonuses to staff	+	(g) member retirement bonuses to staff

−	(h) end-of-year procurement	+	(h) end-of-year procurement
		+
		+	(i) hiring family members, friends, campaign staff, lobbyist relations<br>


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	(a) compare travel costs		(a) compare travel costs

−	(b) travel boondoggles -- vacations	+	(b) travel boondoggles -- vacations

	(c) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)		(c) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)
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	(f) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go		(f) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go
		+
		+	(g) expenses for transportation (e.g. car leases, purchases)



−	3. Other stories	+	3. Other stories

−	(a) leadership expense funds	+	(a) leadership expense funds

	(b) former speakers allocation (see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)		(b) former speakers allocation (see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)

Dschuman at 20:43, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:43:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:43, July 11, 2011
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	*against the private sector		*against the private sector

−	(b) retention rates	+	(b) retention rates

	(c) which staff are connected to which members		(c) which staff are connected to which members
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	(e) multiple payments (i.e. from campaign and from congressional office)		(e) multiple payments (i.e. from campaign and from congressional office)

−	~~<br>~~	+	(f) end of year bonuses? overtime?
		+
		+	(g) member retirement bonuses to staff
		+
		+	(h) end-of-year procurement
		+
		+

	2. Office expenses		2. Office expenses
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	(a) compare travel costs		(a) compare travel costs

−	(b) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)	+	(b) travel boondoggles -- vacations
		+
		+	(c) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)
		+
		+	(d) cell phone usage
		+
		+	(e) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)
		+
		+	(f) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go
		+
		+

−	~~(c) cell phone usage~~	+	3. Other stories

−	(~~d) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products~~)	+	(a) leadership expense funds

−	(e) ~~look at where bulk~~/ ~~percentage of offices expenses go~~	+	(b) former speakers allocation (see http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-17/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217_1_perk-office-and-staff-million)

Dschuman at 20:37, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:37:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:37, July 11, 2011
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	*against the private sector		*against the private sector

−	(b) retention rates	+	(b) retention rates

	(c) which staff are connected to which members		(c) which staff are connected to which members
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	(d) revolving door (staffer --> lobbyist; lobbyist -- > staffer)		(d) revolving door (staffer --> lobbyist; lobbyist -- > staffer)

−	(e) multiple payments (i.e. from campaign and from congressional office)	+	(e) multiple payments (i.e. from campaign and from congressional office)

	<br>		<br>

−	2. Office expenses	+	2. Office expenses

−	(a) compare travel costs	+	(a) compare travel costs

−	(b) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)	+	(b) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)

−	(c) cell phone usage	+	(c) cell phone usage

−	(d) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)	+	(d) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)
		+
		+	(e) look at where bulk/ percentage of offices expenses go

Dschuman at 20:35, July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T20:35:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:35, July 11, 2011
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	1. Congressional Staff		1. Congressional Staff

−	*Comparisons of staff pay	+	(a) Comparisons of staff pay
−	**by title	+
−	**by gender	+
−	**against the private sector	+
−	*retention rates	+
−	*which staff are connected to which members	+
−	*revolving door (staffer --> lobbyist; lobbyist -- > staffer)	+

		+	*by title
		+	*by gender
		+	*against the private sector

		+	(b) retention rates

−	2.&~~nbsp~~;	+	(c) which staff are connected to which members
		+
		+	(d) revolving door (staffer --> lobbyist; lobbyist -- > staffer)
		+
		+	(e) multiple payments (i.e. from campaign and from congressional office)
		+
		+	<br>
		+
		+	2. Office expenses
		+
		+	(a) compare travel costs
		+
		+	(b) compare mail (USPS vs. FedEx vs. UPS)
		+
		+	(c) cell phone usage
		+
		+	(d) inappropriate expenses (overcharges, bogus charges, cheaper sourced products)