The chairman of the Knesset Law Committee, MK (Bayit Yehudi) Nissim Slomiansky, initiated a regulation change that would permit the chairman of Knesset committees to benefit from two nights a week in a Jerusalem hotel at the expense of taxpayers. The new regulation stipulates that if a committee chairperson live more than 50 km (30 miles) from Knesset, s/he is entitled to two nights in a Jerusalem hotel at the expense of taxpayers and the recipient does not have to pay income tax on the perk.

At present there are six committee chairpersons entitled to take advantage of the regulation but for the time being at least, only Slomiansky plans to avail himself of the perk. He is a resident of the northern Shomron community of Elkana.

To date the regulation applied to MKs who reside over 100 km (60 miles) from Knesset but the amended regulation cuts that distance in half for chairpersons of Knesset committees.

Slomiansky explained to Kippa News that at times he is compelled to leave his home at 6 AM to arrive in Yerushalayim in time since he must contend with the rush hour traffic. He explains that if he is late to a committee meeting it is offensive to the committee members.

In actuality, the perk would add NIS 1,000 tax free income to the monthly salary of a MK. In response, Slomiansky explains that members of any Knesset committee may arrive when s/he wishes but the chairperson does not have such a luxury. He adds that a chairman must arrive earlier, as he does, for he often has to consult with the committee’s legal expert and other officials in preparation for committee sessions.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)