This Is Rich

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
This Is Rich
4
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 11:25pm
 This Is Rich Even By John Kerry's Standards http://www.cdharris.net/archives/2004_07.html#003808


<'political' speech at the National Press Club while in Washington, DC. They want him to repay the Commonwealth for the cost of the trip (approximately US$1,900*). Romney responded that he did in fact conduct state business on the one-day trip, having "met with White House fellows and editors at the National Journal magazine to discuss homeland security" and that he has the same a First Amendment right to speak as anyone else, even while on state business.


There's nothing terribly uncommon about this kind of combined travel. Executives of both parties make a regular habit of it, in fact, and it is well established that Governor Romney is right, no less so because complaints about this inherent advantange of of incumbency from the party out of power are fairly commonplace (though one notices a scent of desperation on the air whenever they appear).


No, what makes this case notable is the following:


1) Kerry continues to draw his $158,000 Senate salary but has only shown up for 11% of Senate votes this year; this despite his immense personal wealth and a federal law that requires Congresscritters to forfeit their pay when they don't come to work (2 USC 39). And, of course, there's this, http://www.50minutehour.net/archive/2004_04_01_index.htm#108241216812831865


2) Romney, OTOH, has not drawn a single paycheck in a year-and-a-half as Governor of Massachusetts, saving the Commonwealth about $200,000. For those of you keeping score at home, that's over 100 times the amount Kerry is quibbling over.

Remember, folks, Kerry is supposed to be the smart one in the race. File this as yet another free gift to Karl Rove from the Kerry Campaign.


* The Herald reports that the Governor and four others (2 security, 2 aides) went on the trip and that "roundtrip tickets on the U.S. Airways Shuttle were priced yesterday at $378 each.">>

Renee ~~~

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
In reply to: cl_wrhen
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 12:02am
Here's the moral boys & girls: if you can afford not to draw a government paycheck, then you can do what ever you like with the taxpayers money! Yeah plutocracy!

"Romney, OTOH, has not drawn a single paycheck in a year-and-a-half as Governor of Massachusetts, saving the Commonwealth about $200,000. For those of you keeping score at home, that's over 100 times the amount Kerry is quibbling over."

At least Kerry's a rich guy trying to abide by the rules.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
In reply to: cl_wrhen
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 10:56am


Perhaps he should refund the $1900 and collect his $200,000/year. That would save the taxpayers a bundle, huh? Interesting Kerry is so concerned about the taxpayers yet collects a salary from them that he certainly doesn't need.



I like those rules, show up 11% of the time and still get paid your full salary-where do I apply for that job?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
In reply to: cl_wrhen
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 11:32am

<<Here's the moral boys & girls: if you can afford not to draw a government paycheck, then you can do what ever you like with the taxpayers money!>>


<National Journal magazine to discuss homeland security" and that he has the same a First Amendment right to speak as anyone else, even while on state business.


There's nothing terribly uncommon about this kind of combined travel. Executives of both parties make a regular habit of it, in fact, and it is well established that Governor Romney is right,>>

Renee ~~~

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
In reply to: cl_wrhen
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 11:35am
I like how Gephardt handled the situation. He agreed to pay back the portion of his sallary for the time he missed during the House Sessions.

Now that is an upstanding man.... I may not agree with all of his political ideas, but at least he seems to have some integrity.

Does anyone know if he followed through on his promise?