P-Cards

The current controversy over the use of procurement cards by Massachusetts public employees is probably worse than what has already been reported by the Boston Herald. Procurement card programs exist because, when used properly, they are a cost-saving tool. Corporations have been using them for a very long time. During my working life I was the Purchasing Manager for our company, and was responsible for the implementation of our P-Card program.

First of all, P-Cards were not intended to replace employee travel expense reports. The cards were to be used to purchase incidental items needed in the workplace. Issuing cards to employees allowed them to bypass normal purchasing systems, which eliminated the need for an approving manager, purchasing agent, accounts payable employee, and in many cases, the receiving department to be involved in the transaction, and hence, a cost savings for the company.

Employees requesting a P-Card needed management approval and had to attend a training session. The cards were blocked for use at restaurants, airlines, rental car agencies and hotels. That’s what the expense report process was for.

Furthermore, managers for the cardholders received a monthly report for all items purchased by the cardholder. I would assume that the program works the same for Massachusetts public employees as well. Meaning, Massachusetts employee managers are well aware of what the cards are being for, and have not placed any restrictions on use of the card; which the bank card providers are more than happy to do.

The card purchases exposed by the Boston Herald are not being made in a vacuum.

Lee Lessard

Dracut

‘Russian collusion’

Now that we have all the smoking guns and can show beyond the shadow of a doubt that the “Russia collusion” smear campaign was a total hoax, and we know this scam cost America millions of dollars – and undermined our president in trying times for our country – people need to pay.  Specifically, we should garnish the wages and retirements of all the people behind this fabrication – James Comey, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Lorretta Lynch, Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, James Clapper, Chuck Schumer and others – until that debt is repaid.  Then throw the lot of them in jail for treason.

Nick McNulty

Windham, NH

One party

Gerrymandering has rendered the Republicans in Massachusetts to be without representation. In 1775 didn’t Bostonians demand independence from Great Britain due to Taxation Without Representation? If that was a legitimate argument and if the politicians in Massachusetts are authentic, Massachusetts Republicans would be exempt from taxation. If anyone thinks “0” is a legitimate number of US Representatives from Massachusetts, please remove “Preserving or Protecting Democracy” from your manifesto. The Socialist Democrat ruling class has zero tolerance for Republicans.

Al DePaoli

Woburn