New Hampshire Mayor wants Obama to repay city for campaign visit

[politicaljunkie41910]

PORTSMOUTH, NH -- Mayor Eric Spear knows how much it costs the city to accommodate President Barack Obama's visit on Sept. 7. to a local museum, and now he wants to see the city reimbursed.

According to a letter that Spear wrote to U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, and U.S. Rep.-elect Carol Shea Porter, D-NH, on Nov. 27., the President's visit to Strawbery Banke Museum cost $30,003.24. He asked them to file legislation to make have the federal government reimburse communities for the costs related to a visit by a sitting President. Spear's letter was included in the City Council's meeting packet that is posted on the city's web site.

The City Council actually voted, 5-4, to bill President Obama and former Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney for any costs associated with their campaign visits.


http://portsmouth-nh.patch.com/articles/mayor-spear-wants-obama-to-repay-city-for-campaign-visit#c


From a different perspective, the Museum visited believes that as a result of the President's visit, they received a conservative estimate of $2.8M in media attention. But in spite of the bitterness the visit has caused, a Presidential Campaign based on a Popular vote instead of an electoral vote would certainly end this pettiness and render States like New Hampshire irrelevant and that could possibly be a good thing.

Strawbery Banke Museum President Lawrence Yerdon had a feeling they would benefit from President Obama's visit on Sept. 7, but they couldn't imagine it would translate into more than $2.8 million worth of earned media value.

http://portsmouth-nh.patch.com/articles/strawbery-banke-keeps-on-reaping-benefits-of-obama-visit

[Laurian]

1. I bet the town businesses made more than that from

food, drinks, etc. purchased by the press and other visitors during the President's visit. This petty bullshit is getting on my last nerve.

[julian09]

2. New Hampshire fights to be the first primary state to attract attention

lucky for them Obama wasn't in primary he would have been there a lot more.

If you want to be host town, pay.

[Agschmid]

3. Some did not.

I know this for a fact that some retail establishments had little to no business on the days the politicians were in town. I experienced this directly and have factual knowledge of it.

I do still agree though that the visit would have been overall beneficial to MANY local business, but not apparel, gift, and other soft good stores.

[former9thward]

6. Maybe 30,000 is petty cash to you but not to the town.

The town has to pay the expenses. They don't get any money if some of their business' made some money. They neve asked for the visit. Maybe towns should refuse any services when the President comes in. Let the SS do it all.

[Filibuster Harry]

4. Enjoy stopping on weekend getaways. Well Portsmouth not anymore. Thank you mayor.

[Raven]

5. How much $$$ did these campaigns raise? NH towns

are really hurting and I don't see anything wrong with asking these campaigns to pay for the municipal services they cost. Otherwise, the local taxpayer foots the bill. How is that fair?