Watchdog group calls out Guam congressman for excessive spending

Guam Del. Michael San Nicolas is on track to overspend his congressional office budget - that's according to a report posted on LegiStorm, a web-based platform that researches, verifies and publishes information about members of Congress. The report said San Nicolas has already spent 80% of his budget, while the average congress member has spent 62% of their budget.

In his nine months in office, San Nicolas has racked up $204,000 in taxpayer travel expenses. His travel spending includes roughly $49,000 on airfares in the third quarter alone. From June 13 to July 4 San Nicolas spent $17,581 on airfares and $6,995 on hotels. According to Legistorm, official congressional spending reports "do not detail where San Nicolas' office traveled to rack up $204,000 in taxpayer travel expenses in 9 months."

The LegiStorm report points out Guam's distance from Washington, D.C. is a factor in how much of a budget a district member might get. But according to congressional spending documents, San Nicolas still outspent his counterpart to the north - CNMI delegate Kilili Sablan. While San Nicolas spent $94, 896 on travel in the third quarter, Sablan spent only $40,774. San Nicolas continues to outspend Sablan in the first three quarters, Guam's delegate spent $1.1 million of his budget, while Sablan spent $803,538.

Meanwhile, according to San Nicolas' spending reports, several staffers again received raises. This time Executive Assistant Benjie Perez's pay went from $68,332 to $75,000 annually. Executive Assistant Committee staffer Eli Piniero's pay went from $55,000 to $62,000 annually. Maria Umbrero and Carla Tellei were each paid $7,500 for a month and a half of work. Umbrero performed constituent outreach while Tellei was a "temporary employee."

District Director Jennifer Winn received a raise and a new title - Winn is now the District Deputy Chief of Staff for San Nicolas' office. Her salary went from $85,000 a year to $95,000 a year.
A request for more detailed travel information was sent to San Nicolas' office, however, the congressman chooses not to respond to KUAM.