Catalão: City council spends R$ 34 on masking tape and the president thinks it's normal.
Deusmar Barbosa spent R$ 34 to buy a batch of adhesive tape, scissors, and other utensils; another R$ 75 to hire three waiters and another R$ 80 on press and photography services; the president of the Chamber says he spends little and guarantees that he does everything within the law; "I have a newspaper that I sponsor and that I can do this. And yes, I advertise! I spent little! There is no irregularity, because if there is, take me to the Public Prosecutor's Office in Catalão," says the PMDB member.
Goiás247 - The president of the Catalão City Council, Deusmar Barbosa (PMDB), is controversial and has no qualms about taking even more controversial actions at the head of the municipality's Legislative branch. At the end of 2013, he assumed the mayor's office for less than 24 hours, due to an injunction that removed Jardel Sebba (PSDB) from power, and in a kind of decree dismissed all the city hall's appointed officials.
And 2014 begins with more controversy. A report in the newspaper Opção, written by Frederico Vitor, shows that Deusmar spends many thousands of reais on superfluous things and is not at all embarrassed. The PMDB member has been using the so-called "invitation letter," a type of bidding process below R$ 80, to spend the Chamber's resources. PSDB councilors denounce Deusmar's purchases and claim that the expenses are illogical.
The Opção article states that Deusmar spent R$ 34 to buy masking tape, adhesive tape, scissors, and printer cartridges. And another R$ 68 to acquire a batch of glue sticks, staplers, envelopes, and books.
The expenses continue. R$ 75 to hire two parking attendants, plus R$ 70 for three security guards and another R$ 75 for three kitchen helpers. Deusmar has no regrets. "I put an end to that mess of city councilor's aides crashing their cars and then not paying for the repairs," the president told Opção.
Deusmar further states that hiring the doormen for R$ 70 was necessary to prevent thefts and robberies of items from vehicles parked in the Chamber's garage. "There used to be a bunch of crooks here. Two years ago, they stole documents and a computer from me."
The PMDB member also spends on advertising, and R$ 80 was spent to hire two photography companies. "I have a newspaper that I sponsor and that allows me to do this. And yes, I advertise! Because I have to publicize the things that happen in the Chamber, and that's normal," he justifies.
He also spent another R$ 78 on sound services. "I spent little! Here, every week there's a solemn session with citizenship titles and you have to pay for the ceremony; it's a people who spend public money unnecessarily," he stated to the newspaper.
Deusmar Barbosa insists he does everything within the law. "There are no irregularities, because if there are, take me to the Public Prosecutor's Office in Catalão."