Traveling on the taxpayers’ dollar
by Lori Barrett | May 19, 2008 at 7:24 am
Posted in money, politics
Gov. O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Brown are now being scrutinized by Republicans for “excessive” travel expenses.
The two officials combined have traveled outside of Maryland for 84 of their first 450-ish days in office, spending about $172,000 of taxpayers’ money in the process. The travel included two trips to Ireland for O’Malley and one to China for Brown — the most expensive by far, costing $96,000 for the week.
This administration is not traveling any more than previous administrations. However, Republicans are critical because the travel is happening during a time of financial crisis and tax hikes. Many of the expenses result from the security detail of state troopers that accompany the governor wherever he travels — even on family vacations.
The state paid $4,930 to cover security costs when O’Malley was on the campaign trail with Hillary Clinton. O’Malley’s two trips to Ireland — one to give a speech to Dublin’s Chamber of Commerce, the other to give a speech to Boston College’s Irish Institute — cost the state more than $25,000.
What do you think about the travels of the governor and his lieutenant? Should they fix the problems here in Maryland before spending our money to stump for presidential candidates elsewhere? Or are the speaking engagements — even overseas — justified by helping our state’s public image?
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May 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
From Todays OMalleyWatch:
The Baltimore Sun mentioned the trip to Vegas for the International Shopping Center trip. This is something that the old Governor did as well, however, I am pretty sure the other guy didn’t use it to raise money. If you check Owe’Malley’s campaign finance forms, you’ll notice that the Governor has received thousands from this International Shopping Center group.
Also, what Ms. Smitherman missed was about some of the trips to Iowa to help Hillary Clinton there. What the O’Malley campaign did was use their State campaign account to offset the cost of the hotel. This is highly illegal in the federal campaign finance/post McCain-Feingold world of politics. Since O’Malley’s campaign accepts large contributions from corporate interests, they are not allowed to use that campaign fund to pay for federal election purposes. But breaking the law is something that newspapers aren’t too interested in reporting on.
The $10,000 a month that O’Malley and Brown are spending on travel is one thing, but to be using that taxpayer money to help friends and campaign donors is another entirely.
I'm just saying...
May 19th, 2008 at 7:25 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
It's sad, but when it's not on your own dime, people tend to not be as frugal. And, it happens at the lowest level of government. I'd like to know exactly how much certain hotel rooms costs or dinners out were. I wanna know if O'Malley rented a Honda Accord on his travels or a Range Rover - if his Sunday brunch cost more than a month's groceries for me.
I gotsta know.
May 20th, 2008 at 5:10 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Until the freeper tracs in this State gets on Bush about how much money Cheerleader Bush has wasted they can blow me!
May 20th, 2008 at 6:14 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
"F Bush" thanks for the very thought out input into the conversation. Do me a favor, next time, just punch yourself in the face.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I'll just punch you in the face, republiturd! Again, until freeper trash like yourself bitches about Bush's wild spending (to enrich his friends) then stick it up your arse. And remember, it was Ehrlich who left the State in financial distress. His budgets were outrageous.
Who will clean up after the elephants? Cause they sure have left a lot of **** to clean up!
May 20th, 2008 at 8:35 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
"F Bush" let me ask you this? Why so angry? Not enough love from Mommy and Daddy?
That's what I like to see, tolerance, from the left. Name calling, curse words thrown around just because you can, and comments with no facts to back them up.
Speaking of remembering, let's talk about the incredible shape Mr. O'Malley left the city in. Schools going to hell, crime out of control, and you want to talk about doing favors for friends.
Face it, all politics are crocked, just some more than others.
Once again, I will have to request that you take my advice and begin to punch yourself in the face, repeatedly.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I put the fist in Pacifist.
Hmm. The schools were already **** and continue to be ****. Murder was under 300 for O'Malley. I'm under no illusion that O'Malley was great or even fair to middlin as Mayor. However, O'Malley is hardly the problem when we have a Republican President who views the Constitution as if it were printed on Charmin. And if every Republican (including Ehrlich) weren't tainted by Jack Abramoff and his slave labor operation in the Northern Marianas Islands I might consider voting against O'Malley. But the problem is that Republicans are even bigger vermin. And the Dems are spineless for not impeaching Bush and Cheney