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pourit

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  1. $22,500 a month: Iraq MPs do little, earn lots

    Lawmakers' lavish salaries and privileges spark deep resentment

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    ad info101101-iraqi-parliament-hmed-245a.grid-6x2.jpg Muhannad Fala'ah / Getty Images file An Iraqi lawmaker's basic monthly salary is $10,000 — just $4,500 short of that of rank-and-file members of the U.S. Congress. In addition, Iraqi MPs get a $12,500 monthly allowance for housing and security arrangements, for a combined total of $22,500. They also get to spend nights free at Baghdad's Rasheed Hotel.By BARBARA SURK The Associated Press sourceAP.gif updated 11/1/2010 6:12:51 AM ET 2010-11-01T10:12:51

    BAGHDAD — Iraqi lawmakers have collected their $90,000 stipend, they're raking in $22,500 a month in salaries and allowances, and they're spending free nights in Baghdad's finest hotel — and they've only worked about 20 minutes this year, without passing a single law.

    As the parliament prepares to hold what will be only its second session since the inconclusive election in March, lawmakers' lavish salaries and privileges are deepening resentment among Iraqis struggling to make ends meet and frustrated with the political deadlock.

    The Shiite religious leadership — always tuned into sentiment among the Iraqi religious majority — has warned politicians against living the high life while ordinary people lack basic services, such as electricity and water.

    In contrast, a mid-level government employee makes around $600 a month.

    'They keep turning a blind eye to it' <BR itxtvisited="1">In a mosque sermon Friday, an aide to Iraq's top Shiite cleric urged parliament to lower their salaries when they next meet.

    "It's reasonable to request the lawmakers' salaries do not reach a lavish level," Ahmed al-Safi said. "This is a very important issue ... I do not know why they keep turning a blind eye to it."

    Since June, when the lawmakers first met for 20 minutes, Iraq's second elected parliament since the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime has failed to convene. Sharp divisions among political blocs have prevented the formation of a new government, and not a single law has been debated, much less passed.

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    advertisement | ad info Advertisement | ad infoAdvertisement | ad infoStill, the 325 lawmakers collect their cash and perks.

    "Iraqi politics has turned into business," said Wael Abdul-Latif, an independent Shiite politician and former lawmaker from Iraq's second largest city of Basra. "Many of the lawmakers would not even have bothered to run for the parliament" if salaries were not so high, he said.

    The lawmakers' June meeting consisted of a Quranic reading, the playing of the national anthem and the swearing-in of new members. It produced one decision: to leave the session open but unattended — a technicality to allow more time to choose a new leadership since the election failed to give any party a ruling majority.

    Bitterness <BR itxtvisited="1">After the session, lawmakers collected the $90,000 stipend they are allotted for their four-year term to cover personal expenses.

    Lawmakers are preparing to hold a second session, likely in the coming week, only because the Supreme Court last week ordered them to return to work .

    Meanwhile, Iraqis who voted in large numbers in hope of strengthening their nascent democracy after years of authoritarian rule, war and sectarian violence have grown bitter at the politicians they chose to represent their interests.

    "Instead of working hard and doing a good job, they are enjoying a paid vacation," said Jalal Mohammed, a retired clerk for the administrative council in the southern city of Basra. "I think the parliament members should only be paid if they do something useful for their country."

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      An Iraqi lawmaker's basic monthly salary is $10,000 — just $4,500 short of that of rank-and-file members of the U.S. Congress. In addition, Iraqi MPs get a $12,500 monthly allowance for housing and security arrangements, for a combined total of $22,500.

      Lawmakers pay only six percent of their $10,000 base salary in taxes. They also get to spend nights free at Baghdad's Rasheed Hotel in the relatively safe environment of the Green Zone, regardless of whether parliament is in session. They collect a $600 per diem when traveling inside or out of Iraq.

      Once out of office, they get 80 percent of their salary monthly for life, and for eight years they can keep the diplomatic passports that they — and often their families — are issued.

      'Violent incidents' <BR itxtvisited="1">In contrast, a high school teacher or a doctor in a public hospital each earns about $650 a month. A Baghdad taxi driver can make up to $700 in a good month. In the government — Iraq's biggest employer — a mid-level employee's basic salary rarely exceeds $600.

      Lawmakers justify high salaries and benefits saying they risk their lives participating in the political process.

      advertisement | ad info Advertisement | ad infoAdvertisement | ad info"We are exposed to violent incidents in our houses, on the streets, and even in the parliament," said Sheik Haidar al-Jorani, a Basra lawmaker with the prime minister's State of Law party. He said he had to repair his family home in Basra after it was damaged by a nearby bomb blast.

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        Moving around the country safely and frequent trips abroad cost money, as do the formal receptions and parties lawmakers are expected to hold, he added.

        But many Iraqis feel parliament members just want their posts out of greed, not an urge to serve the country.

        'Legalized corruption' <BR itxtvisited="1">The disconnect in pay makes lower-level government employees feel justified in taking bribes, said Judge Raheem Hassan al-Uqailee, president of the independent Commission of Integrity, which fights government corruption.

        The absence of a law regulating salaries leaves lawmakers to determine their own paychecks, he said. "We consider this legalized corruption."

        Aliyah Nisayef, an MP who sits on the legislature's 13-member Anti-Corruption Committee, said she and a group of other lawmakers tried several times during the previous parliament to pass a law cutting salaries and perks.

        Resistance was so fierce that not only did the bill fail to pass, but lawmakers who supported it received death threats, Nisayef said.

        "Corruption is an epidemic," Nisayef said. "We are no match for them." She would not detail her own salary, but noted some lawmakers give large amounts to charity.

        Recently, the Iraqi press reported that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki awarded cabinet ministers with plots of land in prime Baghdad districts. Far from criticizing him for the blatant patronage, lawmakers publicly demanded the premier put them on the distribution list.

        "How can we hold others accountable if we as legislators have no integrity?" Nisayef said

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    • Upvote 3
  2. Just because most people on this site are struggleing doesn't mean everyone is. Look at it this way...When this comes together...and many have 10 to 50 or a 100 million .....when another great opportunity comes along it's not much of a stretch to think they may invest a million or two. I'm not rich but looking into two investments that will require large sums. Remember...just because your broke doesn't mean that a lot of rich people don't exist. POURITFORWARD

    • Upvote 2
  3. Pourit as always you make my day brighter. As always I appreciate all of you who have been so active and forthcoming with info. I have been a dinar guy with my Susana for a couple of years now thanks to Cap't Keith. When I first bought dinars I chuckled and looked upon it as a lottery ticket more so than an investment. I then discovered DV with the help of Capt Keith. On occasion, he would call all excited that we were close! But to no avail. I read and followed for a year. Then Susana completed her first degree after 10 years of night classes at university. I bought her dinars as a graduation gift. We drank some champagne and smoked 1 Cuban cigar each to celebrate. In good spirit she laughed and graciously accepted that investment. The thought process changed as we followed DV. Then this year I thought I would buy some more dinars so that WHEN the RV takes place we would have a fund to be able to help family, close friends and people who have unselfishly been there for us when needed. That list of helping out will grow when our world as we know it, goes through a modern day convulsion which is what I imagine unfolding behind closed doors with this RV.

    I have been lucky on several occasions in the past and like this one; patience is/was the most important element. Adam et al have been providing the group in many ways, subtley and otherwise, the patience that is required.

    May all of you with your generosity and kindness maintain a balance - one of the most difficult aspects for many when the RV happens. Kind of got off on a little roll there.

    See y'all tomorrow night.

    Thank you and others for all your kind words. I do believe we are very close. I just hope this will change everyone's life for the positive. POURITFORWARD

    • Upvote 1
  4. MY PREDICTION FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIION IN A HUNDRED YEARS IS......8 % POSITIVE RATING PELOSI WILL BE GONE....YAHOOOOOOO!.......HOUSE...61 NEW SEATS......SENATE...8 NEW SEATS....(TWO SHORT UNFORTUNATELY) POURITFORWARD PS...THEN OF COURSE THE D'S WILL SAY WE VOTED AGAINST THE WHOLE POLITICAL PROCESS...NOT BO. WRONG !!!

    • Upvote 1
  5. WE'RE CLOSE EVERYONE...CHECK OUT THE PART I HIGHLIGHTED..POURITFORWARD

    * Political Blocs Agreed to Hold Two Meetings a Day in Preparation For the Parliamentary Session

    November 1st, 2010 11:55 am · Posted in NEWS 10101812news.jpg

    Agreed by the representatives of the political blocs, on Sunday, in a new meeting was held in Baghdad, to hold two meetings a day to prepare for the next parliamentary session, according to a statement after the meeting. The statement read out by the member of a coalition Kurdish blocs Rose Nuri Shaways yesterday evening that “the conferees agreed to hold two meetings every day, morning and evening sessions starting Monday, in order to finalize the finishing touches to form a government as soon as possible because of the circumstances pressing, primarily the Federal Court decision Supreme convene a meeting of Parliament. ” The statement added that “the conferees decided to make each block written proposals with respect to the subject of genuine partnership and particularly the National Council for the strategic policy and rules of procedure of the Council of Ministers during the morning session, but in the evening For the blocks to make proposals on the principle of consensus in the joint

    • Upvote 2
  6. POURITFORWARD SAYS POURITFORWARD.....!!! IN MY POST LAST WEEK "SOMETHING BIG ABOUT TO HAPPEN" I SAID NOVEMBER WAS GOING TO BE A MONTH TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY...I HOPE WEDNESDAY IS THE BEGINNING OF IT. POURITFORWARD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE POST.

    • Upvote 2
  7. LITTLE MISS GRITS......I CAN ANSWER THAT...AS MUCH AS I LOVE DINAR VETS SITE...THERE ARE OTHER SITES THAT DO CONFERENCE CALLS ALL THE TIME. DINAR VETS DOES NOT. THEY HAVE GREAT GUESTS LIKE ...ALI FROM D TRADE...TY...FROM D BANKER...GOLD DEALERS AMD MORE. ONE NIGHT THIS TIAC WAS ON AND IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT SHE NOT ONLY HAD CONTACTS BUT THAT SHE KNEW 100 TIMES MORE THAN I'M SURE 99% OF US ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST. yOU SEE...I AM A STAUNCH REPUBLICAN BUT IF ALL I LISTES TO IS FOX NEWS...I CAN'T GET A VERY IMPARTIAL VIEW OF THE WORLD....POURITFORWARD

    • Upvote 5
  8. Hey penquin...I grew up in the 60's too and have a kid that believes in this. Of course I actually know a mystic that personally told me the RV would be Nov 3rd. Interestingly...he told me that a couple of months ago. I am pulling for either one...the 3rd or the 11th. What I want to know is you said you grew up in the 60's and knew no hippies.....where did you live? Under your bed or in the closet. I don't know about pirateoflight but in the 60's wacky tobacy was the choice. And pirateof light...I hope you are right and make millions. Who knows...maybe we'll meet someday soon.

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