Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Arkansas Elections Republican Allen Kerr is a double dipper, too
Posted by Max Brantley on Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Kerr received the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette endorsement, in part for his protests of the (legal) practice by which state employees have been able to retire, draw a state pension and be rehired in state jobs. Fair enough. The system had some basis in a theory of encouraging valuable employees to work longer, but it has been abused. The editorialist, in praising Kerr, scorned other legislators, the "live-for-per-diem types grabbing all the tax money they can get."
Indeed.
Allen Kerr was a "live-for-per-diem" guy himself, in violation of the Arkansas Constitution. Yes, Allen Kerr for almost four years drew undocumented office expenses and an $850 monthly per diem waiver, worth about $2,200 a month altogether in the most recent year, merely for filing a bogus form for that monthly paycheck. That's more than $26,000 a year (on top of legislative salary), which sounds a lot like "grabbing all they can get." Over his four years in the House, Kerr piled up more than $80,000 in unconstitutional expense reimbursements, until a taxpayer lawsuit put a stop to the odious practice. Kerr was nowhere to be found cleaning up his own smelly stable, but state employees with real jobs? He was happy to kick THEM around.
The DOG editorial commented:
"Somebody needs to keep a sharp eye on the books."
Based on his sticky fingers, I'm not sure Allen Kerr is the guy to entrust with the green eyeshade.
Speaking of Allen Kerr, Barbara Graves
-
Out of step
March 21, 2013Republican legislators as a group favor deregulation of corporations and strict regulation of individuals. They would free a company from all zoning laws, and deny a woman any authority over her own body. The right to bear arms is the only individual right they care for. /more/
- More »
Comments (8)
Showing 1-8 of 8
More by Max Brantley
-
School shootings: A look back at Arkansas
The current debate about school security and guns prompted by the Sandy Hook slaughter has occasioned a 15-year anniversary article about the shootings at the Westside school in Arkansas.
- Apr 5, 2013
-
The guns and Bass Pro Shops open line
The University of Arkansas president recommends that campuses remain gun-free. Bass Pro Shops is under construction in Otter Creek.
- May 21, 2013
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Will the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce press a 'tort reform' initiative?
Paint tort reform as a "One-Size-Fits-All" "Government regulation" that empowers a "Bureaucrat" to determine how…
- on May 22, 2013
-
Re: ExxonMobil has a plan for Lake Maumelle watershed
"But there is something odd about how it veers off toward the confluence of Cadron…
- on May 22, 2013
-
Re: ExxonMobil has a plan for Lake Maumelle watershed
http://gizmodo.com/5914311/56-years-of-dea…
That links to an amazing map that documents some…- on May 22, 2013
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Slideshows
-
May 16, 2013
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
