Senators squander money on banquets, big cars and planes

New and old senators are spending public money on sophisticated restaurants, luxury cars and jet fuel. Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) spent BRL 175,000 on these perks. He paid BRL 891 for a banquet for 22 people and recorded that it was a “commitment of a political nature”. Astronaut Marcos Pontes (PL-SP) paid R$930 for a buffet for 10 people plus R$1,400 for another buffet for 15 people at Steack Bull Gourmet. Expenses with the astronaut’s banquets are equivalent to four Bolsa Família benefits.

Back in the Senate, former Chief of Staff Ciro Nogueira spent R$43,000 on jet fuel. For his trips around the state, he rented a Toyota Hilux pickup truck for R$20 a month until March. In April, he rented a Toyota Diamond SUV for R$15,000. He consumed over R$ 44,000 with fuel for cars. This year, he abandoned the banquets in the upscale neighborhood of Cerqueira César, in São Paulo.

The value of a Hilux varies a lot across the country. Laércio Oliveira (PP-SE) chartered one for R$12,700. Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) paid R$ 10 thousand. Ângelo Coronel (PSD-BA) got a Hilux for 9 thousand. The leader of the Lula government in the Senate, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), soon rented a fleet: a Toro van, a Compass and a Corolla, all for R$ 13,000.

Weverton (PDT-MA) paid BRL 10,800 for a Frontier in January and February. In April, he rented a Jeep Compass for R$4,900. Mecias de Jesus (Republicanos-RR) chartered a Trailblazer for R$10,500 from January to March. Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA), CPMI rapporteur for 8/1, rented a Pajero for 10,000 in January. Afterwards, she traded it for a Toytota Yares for R$4,500 and ended up with an Onix for R$3,000.

Zequinha Marinho (Podemos-PA) rented a plane for BRL 19,500 on the journey between Belém and Altamira, round trip. She took Senator Damares (Republicanos-DF) with her. Jayme Campos (União-MT) spent R$ 19.8 thousand on jet fuel in January. In April, he paid R$3,000 for hosting senior advisor Carlos Alberto Soares at the Winsor Brasília hotel, with daily rates of R$1,000 and R$1,700.

“Fuego Alma e Vino”

Astronaut was also at Rancho Português Leitão à Bairrada, in Vila Olímpia, in São Paulo, where he tasted a portion of babalhau for R$370.
Birosque, paid BRL 657 for lunch, in January, with three porchettas at BRL 375. Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ) financed, with public money, in January, “dinner with the press” at Mari Cuisine for BRL 592. Almost a Bolsa Familia. Had Ravioli Farcis au Chevre and Coc au vin Bouguignonne. That month, he funded three more lunches with journalists.

Senator Ana Paula Lobato (PSD-MA) went to several restaurants. In March, she paid R$710 for lunch at Rossini Steak House, in Calhau, São Luís. In Brasília, at Fuego Alma e Vino, she consumed fish of the day, 350 gr vacio and chorizzo parrilero, all for R$ 444. At the end of the month, she returned to the restaurant and consumed another R$ 433. The main dish was Costela del Fire. In April, she consumed an Adult Skewer for R$597 Churrascaria Fogo de Chão. The bill was R$630.

But Deputy Giordano (MDB-SP) continues to lead spending on restaurants. There were 71 meals worth a total of R$ 19,000 this year. The 10 most expensive had an average value of R$ 600 – the equivalent of a Bolsa Família benefit, which aims to ensure food for a family for a month. In January, he was also at Fuego Alma e Vino. He had a steak ancho and paid a bill of R$325. At Churrascaria Rodeio, he ate grilled salmon, side dishes, and paid R$530. At Vanide Hahal Restaurante, the bill came to R$850. ; the Cambuco de Estrelas, R$274. In February, he returned to Rodeo and consumed another R$760. The main course was a sliced ​​picanha for R$370.

Within the “legal norms”

Zequinha Marinho stated to the blog that “the logistical difficulties and the territorial size of the state pose challenges to the mandate”. She said that Altamira hosted a meeting that day (March 23) with local leaders to deal with the Ribeirinho Territory. “Since it was impossible to travel on a commercial flight, it was necessary to charter the aircraft that, in addition to the senator, also transported Senator Damares Alves. Former Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, the senator has worked on issues related to the agenda of traditional peoples, seeking to settle conflicts”, says a note from Marinho.

Senator Giordano stated that, in food reimbursements, “all requests are made in compliance with legal norms, being restricted to commitments of a political, functional or parliamentary representation nature, in accordance with the regulations established by the Federal Senate, which is why said compensations are granted by the legislative house.

Giordano’s office stated that “the dinners were held with the press to monitor the senator’s parliamentary activities, as shown on the transparency portal.”

Astronauta stated that “all legal, regimental and transparency procedures were strictly complied with, all expenses subject to questioning are provided for reimbursement based on item IX, of article 3 of the Act of the First Secretary No. 5 of 2014, in verbis:

“IX – food, except for alcoholic beverages of the parliamentarian or third parties, when in commitment of a political, functional nature or of parliamentary representation, except for those of an electoral nature, observing § 6 of art. 6th.”

“Therefore, the expenses now questioned are all within the legality and limits established by the Federal Senate for all Senators”, said Marcos Pontes.