Sheriff will bill Kerry for costs

[Nambe]

The Janesville Gazette (Wisconson)

The Rock County Sheriff's Department and Beloit police plan to bill the John Kerry presidential campaign for the cost of helping keep the candidate secure during his swing through the county Tuesday. ..

.. Rock County authorities aren't the first to think of billing a presidential campaign for security.

President Bush made a campaign swing through western Wisconsin on May 7. The La Crosse City Council voted to bill the Bush campaign $7,822, which was everything except the costs incurred by the police, fire and highway departments, said Wayne Delagrave, La Crosse assistant finance director.

The bill was mailed July 9.

Does Delagrave expect a check from the Bush campaign?

"You never know," he said.

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[Pachamama]

1. Do you think they will send a bill to Bu$h when he comes through town?

...I mean, they have such huge coffers and such....oh that's right! We all get stuck with that bill-the taxpayers of the US..

:grr:

[noonwitch]

9. It says in the article that they also billed the Bush campaign

when he went through.

[LiberalFighter]

24. Not true... it was a different locale that billed gw*

[Bandit]

2. I sympathize with these small towns

They need to be repaid but especially if the meeting is only open to Republicans/sworn loyalists and not the general public. If it is a private Republican meeting they should definitely be charged. Not sure about a meeting open to all people of the town. This is a complicated issue.

[murielm99]

3. Kerry's Beloit meeting was by invitation only.

The press here was very quick to point that out, even though they never comment on *'s private meetings and hand-picked audiences.

But that area is hurting. The schools are hurting. There is lots of unemployment. I can see how their budget would be stressed by accomodating Kerry's security. AND *'s, if he decides to go through that area.

[theHandpuppet]

17. I agree

Candidates should help pay the costs these small towns incur for private fundraising meetings. Public meetings are another matter. I hope the Kerry campaign honors this request -- it's not only the right thing to do, but it sends the right message to small towns and cities all across America.

And for those waiting for Bush to pay up -- I'm sure no one is holding their breath.

[leetrisck]

4. I don't know how Springfield, MO is

paying the bills for all the bush visits. I'm not too far from there and I know Springfield cannot afford it but they are not billing the Republicans from what I'm reading and have no intention of doing so. Would they bill Kerry? Probably but I'm guessing.

[markus]

5. They should demand cash on the barrel-head

Campaigns are notoriously poor credit risks.

[hang a left]

6. I don't think that there is anything wrong with this.

Bill both campaigns. No more sucking off the states and counties.


on edit: Kerry's campaign should pay the bill and quickly. Would be a great story in the town's local paper.

[gatlingforme]

10. The people have a vested interest in seeing their candidates

in their own hometown. What would the police consider the next special circumstance? What about parades where the politicians will be participating? will they be billed for the extra cops needed for that too? this is a very stupid idea.

[bluestateguy]

7. I don't know

This tactic could easily turn into a political weapon, if local authoritites decide to bill one side's campaign, but then make excuses for not billing the other side if they were to visit.

[progressivebydesign]

8. If an event is open to the public.. I mean REALLY open..

.. then I think the towns could consider footing the bill. If it's a private event, forget it. The towns forget, when they grandstand like this, that these appearances ALSO bring in money for the town.. to the small business people through food, lodging, incidental sales. These towns, if they're honest with themselves, spend more money than that for other local events... without charging. I'd send them a check, then note not to go back there... if the city leaders can't see the financial benefits of a visit, then fine.

[gatlingforme]

11. This is an effing joke. This is the dumbest I have heard yet from a

sheriff. I wonder how many perks the sheriff has taken while in office at the expense of the taxpayers. hmmmm, can we bill the sheriff for his bull shit too?

[Tempest]

13. This isn't the first time a town has billed a candidate

Clinton was billed several times.

So was Bush.

Only Clinton's campaign paid the bills, Bush's campaign told the towns to piss off.

[gatlingforme]

14. Clinton should not have paid the bills. What line item did the

sheriff use to invoice the President? Sheriffs departments across the country should have better regulation over their budgets.

[Tempest]

16. Sheriff Dept. budgets

Sheriff Dept. budgets would be in better shape if Bush hadn't destroyed the economy and cut funding to states, causing local governments to cut back.

[gatlingforme]

21. I agree the Bush really screwed the states and local economy with

unfunded mandates...slashing the fed money to state and local funds, but this "particular" problem has been going on in my county for quite a few years as well as others. These sheriffs do not have any clue as to how to maintain a budget, thus, this is what you get -- a sheriff who decides (this BS) to get more money for him to spend on a harley for the parades, or a new squad the dept. It's BS.

[Tempest]

12. Bush tells town to piss off when billed for security

Just last week the Bush campaign was billed for security during a stop and they said they wouldn't pay it.

[kskiska]

15. Crashcart is visiting my town today

for a $1,000 a plate fundraiser. What's usually a 10-minute drive home from downtown took me 45 minutes and that was driving down side streets, and I was nowhere near the house where the fundraiser was taking place. Since this is the heart of Red country, I doubt anyone will begrudge the security bestowed on His Royal Hiney.

[JI7]

18. vote for Kerry and they will get help with their financial problems

and send a democratic congress also.

[Jaybird]

19. i live in beloit....

and attended the rally and believe me, this city cannot afford all of the extra overtime that was spent on the police officers and other city staff that was there. beloit is in deep red. i have no problem with asking campaigns to pay up. this city is hurting..bad

[HereSince1628]

20. Interesting, is there a Democratic Party organization now responsible

for Kerry's expenses, or does the Party only support the activities of the Kerry organization...corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship, whatever?

I never gave it much thought. What sort of organizational and accounting wizardry is possible?

[gatlingforme]

22. Sheriffs have cornered the market on creative accounting.

[tlcandie]

23. This is definitely something that needs to be considered into the

costs of their campaign budgets, IMO. In the future at the minimal. It seems security has now changed and therefore the demands and conditions for it are much more complicated.

I don't know who you go about handling the current situation. If the candidates truly care about the citizens, then, IMO, they will have someone contact their destination cities, etc. ahead of time to communicate regarding costs, etc.

[poliguru]

25. Kerry needs to pay it

Regardless of whether anyone thinks it's right or wrong, it's great PR.

Think about it - Bush accuses Kerry of being an elitist, and then refuses to pay to help the city. Impression: he doesn't care about us. Kerry pays it. Impression: This guy understands our plight. Result: Votes for Kerry.

[JerseygirlCT]

27. I agree with you.

I think it would go a long way...

Although it might start to really add up.

[JerseygirlCT]

28. Sorry - dupe. nt

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

26. Message to Podunk Sheriffs

On those rare occasions when the other 98% of America gives a crap about your existence, you might want to not spoil the moment by grabbing the national spotlight to act like a complete and utter moron.

Whether it's the Bush Campaign or the Kerry Campaign (or anybody else's campaign, for that matter), municipalities cannot simply "bill" a political party for police overtime when they stage a public event. It's called "Freedom of Assembly" and you might have noticed that wedged into the Bill of Rights somewhere. It's the price you pay for living in a democracy and I'm sorry for your luck.

Suck it up, Barney. Campaigns only happen once every four years.

[Gold Metal Flake]

29. Let's pay it for them!

We could all send a check for $0.01 each.