Also see: The Looting Legislators of London
"UK Commons speaker resigns over expenses" by Jennifer Quinn, Associated Press | May 20, 2009
LONDON - The powerful speaker of the British House of Commons resigned yesterday, bowing to a backlash over excessive expense claims by lawmakers and becoming the first speaker in three centuries to be forced out.
Next up:
Though Michael Martin has not been caught up in recent revelations about lawmakers expenses - reimbursements for chandeliers, moat cleaning, and mortgage payments have outraged taxpayers - he was blamed for creating a climate that allowed excesses....
Rightfully so!
The story has dominated national news for two weeks and shows no signs of abating. Martin became a symbol of what was wrong in Westminster when he resisted attempts to make lawmakers' expenses more transparent and fought to block publication of the expense claims.
I know how to fix that:
But lawmakers themselves have been reluctant to expose their sometimes lavish spending, and Martin's defenders said he was taking the fall for their avarice....
All the more reason to let loose the blade, Brits!
