Actually, 10 Cities Are Reportedly Waiting For Trump Campaign To Pay $841,000 In Rally Bills

[mfcorey1]

*****snip****

Ironically, Trump often gushes at rallies about police officers and other brave first responders, but his campaign is apparently stiffing police and firefighters across the nation.

“Do we love law enforcement or what?” he asked at a rally in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in October. Apparently, his campaign didn’t love them enough to even bother to respond to a $16,191 bill for city police and other safety costs, according to the report by the nonprofit CPI in conjunction with NBC and CNBC.

The expenses can be significant, especially for smaller towns like Lebanon, population 21,000. The Trump campaign bill would cover two days of police force operations there, according to CPI.

The Trump campaign owes a total of $841,219 to cities from Burlington, Vermont, to Green Bay and Eau Claire in Wisconsin, Mesa, Arizona, and Spokane, Washington, according to invoices. The largest bill — $470,000 — was for El Paso for a February rally, including $381,000 for extra police and $61,000 for fire department services. Erie, Pennsylvania; Billings, Montana; and Tucson, Arizona, are also still waiting for payment.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/campaign-rally-bills-trump-10-cities_n_5d02e5a6e4b0304a120c9a1c

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. This is crazy. I mean, who could've seen this coming? Other than

pretty much every sentient being......

[rampartc]

3. +1

and no one should expect to be paid. the bill is passed to the "state and local " taxpayers who were stiffed in the tax cut and trump supporters think that he is the greatest president ever.

scorched earth demagogue.

[ananda]

9. Lol. Exactly!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. +1

Exactly

[Ilsa]

2. An excessive deposit should be required for him. nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. Make the assholes post a surety bond before arrival.

Cities have no obligation to cater to this bullshit - essentially taxpayers unwittingly contributing to Trump's campaign.

.......

[3Hotdogs]

6. I think they do have a legal liability to provide security.

Cities do have to issue permits. There have been altercations at prior Trump rallies. An injured person could sue the municipality for failure to protect.

A security deposit could be required.

[Farmer-Rick]

8. NO they don't.

There is NO legal requirement for the police to protect citizens.

"The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the police did not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm, even a woman who had obtained a court-issued protective order against a violent husband making an arrest mandatory for a violation.

The decision, with an opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia and dissents from Justices John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, overturned a ruling by a federal appeals court in Colorado. The appeals court had permitted a lawsuit to proceed against a Colorado town, Castle Rock, for the failure of the police to respond to a woman's pleas for help after her estranged husband violated a protective order by kidnapping their three young daughters, whom he eventually killed." https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/justices-rule-police-do-not-have-a-constitutional-duty-to-protect.html

If they didn't have to protect those 3 innocent lives, they don't have to protect anyone.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

10. Why then.....

would a city issue a permit for a rally when they now know they're going to get rolled for the cost? And what would the return on their investment be?

Doesn't seem a valid expenditure of a typically tight city tax money for outlandishly expensive political campaign rallies. Even more outlandish for Republican majority city councils to agree to this when they cut taxes and then cut drastically needed funds for schools and infrastructure.

In my view (may be wrong), a political campaign is like a commercial venture and in terms of security would be comparable to a concert event or convention. In those cases, I believe the corporations have to foot at least part of the bill for security.

Let him have his rally out in the middle of a corn field well away from town.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. What would this mean for future Trump "rallies" for 2020?

Would cities outright not issue permits? Tell him to go to the "next town?" Get a cash deposit ahead of time?

[marble falls]

7. Pretty somple. No new rallies till the oitstanding bill is paid. Its win/win. Either he pays or ...

no rally.

[RainCaster]

21. He should provide his tax returns too

A nice way to tell him to go away.

[marble falls]

24. Yep, and there is no doubt - his tax filings are going to be released before the next election.

[mountain grammy]

11. Maybe they should all just pray

[Duppers]

12. There ya go.

[machoneman]

13. Good one! Refuse all permits w/o a large cash desposit of 200% of expected cost. Problem solved as..

Trump will never go for it.

Btw, aside from a few blue cities, I see most getting burned are in red states. Good, I say! Let them remain burned as a lesson in civics: vote in an asshole, get an asshole!

[Fritz Walter]

14. Knowing these grifters, I see another strategy emerging

In closed-door meetings with the potential host city political leaders, the campaign's advance team will tell them that they will have to absorb the additional costs for the privilege of rolling out the red carpet for the mangled apricot hell-beast. If they don't like those terms, the campaign will just move the rally to a more accommodating community, and the city will lose its hour in the spotlight. RepubliCONs, MAGAts and Chamber of Commerce types will push hard to cut school budgets, cancel road improvements, and otherwise screw over the taxpayers so that demented donnie will grace them with his presence.

[panfluteman]

15. Would the Trump Leopard Ever Change Its Spots - Especially at 72 - 73 Years of Age?

You would hope that he would show more gratitude after becoming president and making it to the top, but old habits die hard.

[maddiemom]

23. The presidency isn't "the top" in Trump's mind.

It's much too restricting.

[lark]

16. Any city that lets him hold a rally there and doesn't get payment in advance is just pure stupid.

Either that or run by Russian Repugs who see it as a donation to the cause.

[dalton99a]

17. Yeah, nobody knew he was a scammer and thief

Make him pay cash in advance

[IggleDuer]

18. Did the Trump campaign report the $841K as a campaign contribution.

It’s payment in kind, just like the Russians offered. Oh, well ...

[durablend]

19. Pretty sure the check is in the mail right now...

[Firestorm49]

20. If anybody, any group, any organization isn't aware of his "business acumen"

then they deserve to be screwed. It’s just another punch to the gut to fellow Republicans who trust this idiot. I’m sure they believe that they will get paid - sooner or later not being the issue - just as much as farmers still believe that the Commander In Bull is helping them.

Sorry boys, the joke is on you, and what’s his name is laughing all the way to the bank.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. A cheapskate who stiffs contractors

Why would he not treat others likewise?

[NotASurfer]

25. Next time he holds a rally in the same state, maybe seize some property in lieu of cash

I know you can't just impound Air Force One, but maybe go after the jet fuel they have to buy and apply it toward the balance due. Catered event, seize the food and truck it to homeless shelters.

I can dream...stuck on the tarmac, eating cold Big Macs after getting some underling to pony up the cash...

[CrispyQ]

26. They don't call him the Con for nothing.

It's not like the nickname is new, either.

[Vinca]

27. They must have to get permits for these events. Cities need to get cash up front.

[madinmaryland]

29. It's just one huge grift. NT.

[SWBTATTReg]

30. So in effect, the rump campaign has been campaigning against themselves in all of these...

locations...by not paying their bills (like the rest of us do), they are simply causing hardships in each of the locations (Lebanon for example) where funds aren't abundant. Folks in each of these communities are seeing what the real truth is, in that rump sticks it to everyone that he can get away with all of the time.

That's okay, more voters for us (democratic candidates) when folks realize that we pay our bills and don't cheat others.

[NYC Liberal]

31. Stop providing police protection if he won't pay.