http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/125479Knesset Top-Spender Report Puts MKs in the Hot Seat
by Ezra HaLevi
(IsraelNN.com) A Knesset report on the top spenders on dubious expenses has
Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On in the hot seat.
MK Gal-On was ranked the number one spender, with 97,829 shekels going toward "voter contact" in 2007. The expenses include 30,000 shekels on polls and 4,363.30 shekels for refreshments.
MK David Tal (Kadima), formerly of Shas, placed second with 81,760 shekels – 15,000 of which went to learning an additional language. Pensioners MK Moshe Sharoni came in third, with 79,536 shekels.
The cap for voter contact spending is supposed to be 48,000 shekels, with MKs renting a parliamentary office allowed an addition 20,000. Knesset Members may also take out up to 12,000 shekels from the following year’s allotment. MK Gal-On received special permits from the Knesset for her purchases.
"I decided to commission a poll after nine years in the Knesset," said MK Gal-On, who rejects any insinuations that she misused taxpayers' money.
Likud MK Reuven Rivlin was the lowest spender, with just 11,000 shekels, aside from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who did not ask for a single shekel in voter expenses from the Knesset.
Knesset reporters claimed that the report on the Knesset's big spenders was released to the press at an uncharacteristically late hour Wednesday, prompting speculation that someone was trying to lessen media coverage and avoid embarrassment.