Comptroller publishes lawmakers gravy train staff list

The Comptroller General of has published  on his web page, the form 002 of the National Assembly, revealing the  taxpayer  money  spent on staff by the nation’s cosseted and pampered lawmakers   who receive handsome salaries and have a paid stand-in to serve their constituents

The  32 pages document shows that – out of a total of 1,447 employees – 1094 are assigned to single deputies and the rest (353) to commissions.

For the first time, a report indicates for which deputy each employee works.

According to the document, 74% of the deputies have a payroll of over $15,000 dollars a month and, at least, 13 deputies have personnel hired for $ 20,000 per month on their payrolls.

One of those with the most expensive staff lists is Yanibel Ábrego, president of the National Assembly and deputy for the Democratic Change party (CD). Her collaborators include five assistants, four manual workers, and three secretaries, reports La Prensa.

The deputy of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Zulay Rodríguez, has 13 employees, whose payment represents an expense of $20,000. Juan Carlos Arango. president of the Popular Party and deputy of the circuit 8-3 has a similar  payroll,

Other deputies spending   $20.000 monthly are Mario Lázarus (CD), who has four secretaries, five inspectors and two drivers, among others; and Miguel Fanovich (Molirena), who among his employees has six secretaries.

The rookie Panamenista deputy, Katleen Levy, has three secretaries, two internal messengers, and four security agents.

Deputy Edwin Zúñiga (CD)  is also on the most expensive forms list: he has four drivers among his workers, reports La Prensa.

Previously the staff of the deputies were hired under the 080 form; However, the Comptroller of the Republic, Federico Humbert, suspended the payment of that return on June 5, after an audit. that caused a widespread outcry and a “No to re-election “ call