By Adam Reaburn
MP Jay Hill spent over $549,000 in 2008 and 2009 while serving this riding.
A report in Saturday’s Edmonton Journal showed just which MP’s spent the most money from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.  Prince George Peace River MP Jay Hill spent $549,857 putting him in the top ten spenders list.
Each MP has two budgets, one to maintain and operate a Parliament Hill and constituency office and the other is for other expenses incurred while traveling between Ottawa and MP’s constituencies, communication and printing, office furniture and computers and other supplies.
With the member’s office budget they are allowed to spend $280,500 per year.  In a large riding like Prince George Peace River, an MP is allowed to spend another $52,120 on top of the basic amount.  Jay Hill spent in total $332,733 in this area.
As for the other budget, MP’s on average spend $143,763, MP Jay Hill spent $217,124.  The majority of that amount went to travel expenses of $156,754.  He also spent $45,247 on printing.
MP’s made a decision 10 days a go to reject the Auditor General’s request to audit their spending. Â
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Biggest Overall Spenders
(Member’s office budgets plus goods and services provided by the House of Commons)
1. Steven Fletcher — Man. (CPC) $781,631.*
2. Russ Hiebert — B.C. (CPC) $637,093.
3. Dennis Bevington — N.W.T. (NDP) $586,014.
4. Nathan Cullen — B.C. (NDP) $580,579.
5. James Lunney — B.C. (CPC) $564,728.
6. Jim Abbott — B.C. (CPC) $558,978.
7. Jack Layton — Ont. (NDP) $555,983.
8. Jay Hill — B.C. (CPC) $549,857.
9. Richard Harris — B.C. (CPC) $545,343.
10. Rob Clarke — Sask. (CPC) $541,704.
* Fletcher is a quadriplegic and requires special assistants, extra travel costs, and specialized equipment to discharge his MPs duties. These added about $308,000 extra in expenses that other MPs do not incur.
Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Opposition+spending+audit+could+bite+their+wallets/3059635/story.html#ixzz0ohM78g3cÂ
