About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

B-202124 1 (1981-07-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadjoj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 4 OECISION FILE: B-202124 THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON, 0. C. 20548 DATE: July 1, 1981 MATTER OF: Parkis Everett DIGEST: Claimant's allegation of religious discrimination where GAO refuses to reimburse him for expenditures for alcoholic beverages consumed with meals is unfounded since Government regulations do not require that religious belief that alcohol should be consumed with meals be infringed upon in any manner. The claimant must bear cost of such expenditures. By letter dated January 22, 1981, Mr. Parkis Everett, an employee of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in South Point, Ohio, has appealed the action of our Claims Division, which by settlement dated November 24, 1980, disallowed his claim for the cost of alcoholic beverages consumed with meals incurred incident to travel on official Government business on two separate occasions. The record shows that Mr. Everett traveled pursuant to TDY orders on two separate dates - February 2-8, and April 20-25, 1980, respectively. The travel voucher indicates that Mr. Everett claimed approximately $220 for meals. Although the record is imprecise, it is clear that that sun includes the cost of alcoholic beverages taken with meals. Relying on Comptroller General decision B-164366, August 16, 1968, holding that alcoholic beverages, even when taken with meals, are not reimbursable expenses, the Claims Division declined to pay that portion of the claim relating to alcoholic beverages. In a recent decision, B-164366, March 31, 1981, we were specifically asked to reevaluate the basis for disallowing reimbursement for such expenses. We reaffirmed our earlier decision to deny reimbursement. Our recent decision stated: It is clear that the statute and implementing regulations contemplate reimbursement only for items essential or indispensable to subsistence. We cannot regard alcoholic beverages * * * as falling within such category. * * * The denial of reimbursement for alcoholic beverages has existed for a long time in our decisions, and the Congress has not taken action to the contrary. In the circumstances, we see no compelling reason for a change and conclude that reimbursement for alcoholic beverages consumed with meals is not authorized. Mr. Everett contends, however, that he should be reimbursed for the expenditures since his religion requires that he take alcohol with his meals and that the refusal to pay the expense is religious discrimination. 4 - e5 KA rl /f0'A 15

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most