In Chile, an iPad for every lawmaker

Chile's Congress will bestow an iPad2 on each and every one of its 120 lower house lawmakers to improve their efficiency and remote access to legislative proceedings.

A four-member lower house panel on administration decided to hand out the high-selling Apple tablets "to support legislative operations," the daily La Segunda reported.

Speaker Patricio Melero said the goal was to make it possible for lawmakers to remotely access their work, do research and follow legislation.

But some lawmakers, who were asked to pick their iPad in black or white, had their doubts about whether they needed such a freebie.

"I think that our Congress absolutely should invest our money as best as possible. People who want to get one of these things should get it with their own money. We make enough," said legislator Rene Alinco.

Legislators are supposed to turn in their iPads when their terms end.

(c) 2011 AFP