City to bill Bush campaign for visit-related costs (La Crosse, WI Tribune)

[mark0rama]

La Crosse Mayor John Medinger has asked city department heads to keep track of expenses related to President Bush's visit here Friday and plans to submit the bill to the Bush campaign.

"This is a campaign visit," Medinger said Tuesday. "We have tight budgets. Everybody is trying to cut back. The taxpayers should not subsidize anyone's campaign."

"Absolutely, it will be the same when Kerry (Sen. John Kerry, presumptive Democratic nominee) comes here," Medinger said.

Dubuque City Manager Mike Van Milligen said he too plans to submit the bills to the campaign. Prairie du Chien Mayor Cheryl Mader was not available for comment.

On edit: sorry, forgot the link:
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2004/05/05/news/2news.txt

[CatWoman]

1. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

:D

[htuttle]

2. Hooray LaCrosse!

Madison did the same thing to Cheney when he wanted to speak at the local Chamber of Commerce last year. He cancelled. As a result, our city smells much better.

[NMDemDist2]

3. wonderful!! I love this! eom

[GainesT1958]

4. Don't hold your breath, Mr. mayor; you'll never see that money...

Either before or (certainly not) after Nov. 2.

After all, paying somebody back is tannamount to an appology, a word not in the BFEE's vocabulary!:eyes:

B-)

[davidinalameda]

5. link?

thanks

[mark0rama]

6. Just added it; sorry for the oversight (eom)

[Supormom]

7. How many cities will have to follow suit ...

to even put a small dent in dubya's slush fund?

[bobthedrummer]

8. On Wisconsin!

[glitch]

9. My advice: get the payment up front

- don't forget who you're dealing with.

[Cocoa]

14. lol

:-)

[DiverDave]

10. They won't see a nickle.

I'll bet ya $20.

[xray s]

11. Bush will just make the US taxpayer pay the bill

We will pay for it one way or another.

[Leilani]

12. Terrific idea!

And if he doesn t pay the bill, let the voters know it was billed to them.

[havocmom]

13. yes yes yes! Local governments should NOT make campaign contributions

and that is what it amounts to when they have to pay for extra hours for police protection and traffic control for these fly-bys to pick up checks from donors.

Local governments don't have $$ to spare, especially with jobs going overseas, taxpayers losing ground in the economy and less federal $$ for programs/grants.

It is hateful int eh extreme that these locals are then expected to roll out the red carpet and secure any protesters far from the eye of the press at their own expense.

Glad somebody has some conjones and is sending a bill. The neocons need to get a dose of the medicine they always prescribe for others: Do it yourself; it'll instill some dignity in you!

friggin bastard pigs, schools need books, roads need paving, workers need support not outsourcing. the Chicken Hawks in 04 campaign can pay their own damned expenses and not bill the locals!