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Mike Bishop defending charging taxpayers for his staffer’s lodging
ICYMI: Bishop’s office defends lodging expenses for staff
The Detroit News
August 12, 2015
Republican Rep. Mike Bishop’s office recently came under scrutiny for $1,800 in lodging expenses reported for the first quarter of 2015.
Members of Congress aren’t supposed to be reimbursed for lodging in the Washington area, and Bishop wasn’t, according to his office.
“The lodging expense was for a staffer which was paid at fair market value and is fully allowed under House rules,” Bishop spokeswoman Kelli Ford said.
“There’s a benefit to having a chief of staff based in Michigan, and this was a cost-effective route to handle that for the time being.”
Bishop’s chief of staff is Allan Filip, former district director for Bishop predecessor Rep. Mike Rogers, who lives and is based in Michigan.
The lodging expenses covered Filip’s housing in Washington on a temporary basis after Filip started on Bishop’s staff. By the end of April, he had found other accommodations and is no longer being reimbursed for lodging, according to the office.
It’s standard practice for congressional staffers such as a chief of staff to travel for Washington on official business and have their lodging reimbursed by the office from the member’s representational allowance, according to the House Administration Committee, which oversees
Staffers away from their duty station on official business may be reimbursed for lodging, according to the Members’ Congressional Handbook.