My LTE re cities NOT paying for Bush's campaigning visits!

[DagmarK]

**I am on a mission to hopefully start a movement where the people in cities and state where Bush, Cheney, et al. come to fundraise and the local taxpayers are left to foot exhorbitant security bills. Cheney raised $300,000 at a short 1 hour event last week; it cost that NC locality $150,000 to provide security.

**our cities are bankrupted BECAUSE of the mismanagement of federal funds. And we are paying for strictly FUNDRAISING visits under the shadow that it is customary for cities to pay for the security of our top officials. Well......the ONLY thing these buzzards do is fundraise. And the republican party can pay the bill!

Here is my letter (I hope that Seattlites will follow suit and stir things up for Bush's August visit there!

____________________

Letter to the editor re 7/25 article by H. Esteve re Presidential visit on August 21:

Can we afford a visit from the President?

Portland should decline the presidential visit on August 21 because we cannot afford to provide security. We need to save our taxpayer-funded security dollars for emergencies or official state business. Bush Regional Chairwoman, Molly Bordonaro, states the purpose of the visit to be "there will be a fund-raising component. Beyond that, it hasn't been determined."

When President Bush came to Portland to fundraise for Republican Senator Gordon Smith and raised over $1,000,000 for a lunch, the security costs to our city and county exceeded $200,000 – at a time when we were discussing which schools to close.

It is unconscionable for the republican re-elect campaign to insist that our bankrupted city foot the bill for the president or any other candidate to raise money for their campaigns and party.

It should not be overlooked that the leader of the free world scheduled a fundraising visit to Portland without having an official purpose under the color of his office for which to justify the trip. Is it reasonable to believe that an official purpose will materialize for this trip? Or will Ms. Bardonaro to come up with one eventually? The Republican Party should pay for this strictly campaign-related visit or our bankrupted city should decline the visit. (Or campaign contributors can simply mail their checks to Mr. Bush).

Is this what my 2003 property tax increase is going to be used for? When I voted YES for the increase, I believed it was to help make up for federal funding that was slashed because of federal tax cuts to the top 1% (who will no doubt be contributing to Mr. Bush's campaign). The journey of taxpayer money is becoming more circular all the time.

[SeattleDem]

1. where can I find figures?

this is a great point I never thought about. Where did you find your data about what it cost Portland taxpayers? I'd be happy a letter to the Seattle PI

[DagmarK]

2. OOOOO, it was written up in the papers after the fact......

It became an issue then...mainly because there was a terrible reaction of the police toward protesters (pepper-spraying babies and everything!).

I will see if I can find out.........BUT......a good place to find out is to call a council member or the mayor! They man the budget!

Let's stir things up a bit!!!

[SeattleDem]

6. I sent an email to

a council member whom I generally agree with for his liberal views. Will report what/if I hear back!

thanks for the suggestion.

[Andy_Stephenson]

3. Seattle cut funding for Crossing Guards...

to the tune of I think it was 1.5 million dollars, leaving our children unprotected at some of the busiest intersections in the city...Instead of paying for Bush* security...I say we restore the crossing guard funding instead!

I cannot wait for the visit! Time for a major protest march. Any Ideas for getting around the "First Amendment Zones" sure to be in place?

[jamesinca]

11. Another point to bring up.

If it is a business trip part of the expense is picked up by the federal govt. If it is a fundraising/campaign then at least part of the cost falls on Bush, not the federal govt. So you can bet he will come up with something to do out there besides have dinner for $2,000 per plate. He will go to Ft.Lewis and talk about strong military, he will go to Microsoft and talk of strong military, he will go to the Portland branch of the republican party and talk of a strong military. It will then be considered a business trip and he won't have to pay for it out of his campaign funds, more for him.

[Bandit]

4. An extremely good valid point

:kick:

[ArkDem]

5. This position would hurt a Democrat incumbent more

than a republican. They can always find some corrupt corporation to foot the bill.

[DagmarK]

7. No............the Cities are not going to EVER slash the security funding.

But we can sure point out that taxpayer funds are supporting the republican campaigns! Indeed we should. It's a time-honored custom for the cities to pay for security for top officials. So it isn't going to hurt anyone. But we shouldn't let it get pushed under the rug.

It's absurd, we have boarded up schools in Portland. Closed........no plans to re-open. HUGE class sizes. We canceled the unionized janitors at the schools and some "private" subcontractor will be bringing in god knows who to be near our children. Shall I trust them to do a proper background check?

We have released 100s of jailed people because we have no money for jails.

Our first responders are not trained and adequately equipped for the alleged WAR ON TERROR -- the federal funds didn't come in.

Our roads and infrastructure are crumbling.....

Our property and income taxes are skyrocketing. Fees are skyrocketing.

We still don't have money to run our schools. We are bankrupted. We are insecure. 1/2 our state guard units are in IRAQ!

And we're going to come up with 1/4 of a million bucks so that George Bush who created this hell can collect another $1 million to continue this nightmare? Yeah, Portland will come up with the money......but not without someone noticing what is going on. If I have anything to say about it.

[sandnsea]

10. The forest

Do you know which forest he's supposed to visit? It says he is in the article, but I didn't see which one. That's more money when we don't have enough for firefighting and the actual true thinning projects. I'd be glad to hit that angle down here since I don't live in Portland!

[ibegurpard]

8. Good letter DagmarK

Keep the fires burning in Portland. (I miss that town :-()

[DagmarK]

9. Oh, I am sure Portland misses you too!

You ought to run over here for a visit around August 21. We're throwing a welcome party for Bush! No party favors to be given, but lots of signs to be waved.