mrweb said:
Oh I understand all too well how it works, perhaps more than you..
Oh please oh great one, educate me.
Don't you have to turn in receipts for actual expenses? I bet you don't.
If you know so much, why do you ask? The laws are in place. I turn in receipts in accordance with the JTR.
A bit dishonest? I think so.
You are not qualified to think, so don't try.
really tired of Government workers taking "trips" and making extra income as a result.
While there is a small amount of fraud and boondoggles going on, your assumption that we're all trying to get rich is insulting. Believe me, I'd rather be at home and comfortable than being in cattle car class, on a full flight, with 24 hours in transit.
(Before you say it, I always turned in my itimized expenses and broke even on all my trips.)
Oh goody for you. The government has decided that is a stupid way of doing business. Under your system, you turn in a receipt for your $10 breakfast. Somebody has to look at the receipt and determine if the expense is valid. If they don't think so, they call you for an explanation. Then they want a memo explaining the cost. That's all manhours. If it costs you $40 in labor to save the government $2, what have you gained?
It is a shame that you feel that screwing the Government is OK by taking advantage of the per diem system.
Show me one instance where I took screwed the government. If they ask me to travel for them, give me strict rules, and I follow them, how is that taking advantage of the system?
Perhaps an audit of your expenses would be in order. Feel comfortable with that prospect?
If you were anywhere near as knowledgeable as you claim, you would know that audits of my expenses are required. I am completely comfortable with that because I have access to the JTR, and I comply. Your inane babel is pathetic.
...and no I will not "Get over it." Someone has to be the gatekeeper.
Okay, I'll amend that to say get over your bad self. There is a gatekeeper. Audits are done. People are fired and go to jail. You have picked a fight about something you know nothing about.
I usually side with you on your opinions, but you can count me out on this one.
Proves my point.
The bottom line is, there is a system in place. Per Diem rates are set based on the cost of living in the area of travel. Let's use the Pax River M&IE rate of $39 as an example.
Breakfast - IHOP Linda's. $10.
Lunch - Monterey, Asahi, etc. $10.
Dinner - Lonestar, Outback, Appleby's etc. at least $20. Add a glass of wine or two and watch out.
Now you are in a strange town. What to do. Should I sit in the room and watch the tube all night? Maybe I want to catch a movie? ($15)
If I were at home, breakfast and dinner would be made at home, and I'd take my lunch to work. Entertainment would consist of spending time with my kids. Just a little bit cheaper.
M&IE covers the gap between your normal cost of living and the added cost of being away from home. Nobody gets rich off of it.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is much more than the tables and furnishings. The waitstaff makes or breaks it. Some of the most memorable restaurants I've ever been so because of the care and attention from the staff, regardless of the "fancyness" of the restaurant. In New Orleans, we stopped at some dive-looking restaurant and had the most glorious meal prepared fresh for us with attentive service...at 2 in the morning! 
smartazz. No bull.