June 19, 2010 7:38am by David Farrar

Expenses et al

Former Labour ministers Mita Ririnui and Parekura Horomia were sent 186 reminders and requests between them over their credit card spending, a Weekend Herald investigation has found.

Official figures made public this month show Mr Horomia, MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti, was the most lax of all MPs. Between 2003 and 2008, officials had to send him 94 requests for receipts or reminders of the spending rules.

Close behind, list MP Mr Ririnui received 88 requests between 2004 and 2008, and four letters requesting more details of spending.

That is basically a reminder every three weeks, that got ignored. It’s not three strikes and you’re out – it’s 94 strikes and you remain on the front bench.

Meanwhile, Progressive MP Jim Anderton this week repaid more than $700 in personal expenses put on ministerial credit cards during a trip to Rome and Malaysia in 2008.

Mr Anderton said he was “deeply upset” the money had not been repaid immediately after the eight-day trip.

He had written a cheque for the outstanding amount after the trip.

“Inexplicably, the cheque was mislaid.”

Jim said it was outrageous to expect him to pay using two separate credit cards when checking out. The above shows exactly why that should happen – because them there is no chance of reimbursement cheques being “mislaid”.