Link
Quote:
GRAND ISLAND - Vice President Dick Cheney's brief visit to Grand Island Monday cost the city about $4,716 in overtime, officials said.
Grand Island spokeswoman Wendy Meyer-Jerke said that money paid for police, fire and street department staffers.
Cheney attended a $200-a-plate luncheon fundraiser for Republican House candidate Adrian Smith. The fundraiser, which also raised money for the Nebraska Republican Party, brought in around $100,000. Campaign officials said Smith will get most of the money.
State Democrats had criticized the visit, saying it would be costly for taxpayers.
But Grand Island officials said the annual Harvest of Harmony parade was more expensive. The city spent $7,721 in overtime for it last year.
Rob Czaplewski, spokesman for Smith's campaign, said city officials told the campaign that Grand Island was financially prepared for Cheney's visit.
Smith and Democrat Scott Kleeb are competing for the 3rd District seat held by Republican Tom Osborne.
|
First off...I don't want this degenerating into a party bash-fest. This is not about that. This could just as easily, and I'm sure has, happened with the Democratic Party.
Now...that said,
why on earth, should the city of Grand Island, or any other city for that matter, be forced to foot the bill for the Vice Presidential visit? This wasn't a "public" speaking engagement. He wasn't addressing some high school graduation, or some old lady's quilting bee. This was for a Republican Party fundraiser, to benefit...Republicans. This could just as easily have happened with any other party, so I don't wanna hear whining about the mean old corrupt GOP. Why should the entire city be forced to pay the costs associated with bringing in the Vice President just for the benefit of one particular segment? And if
not the city of Grand Island, then
who should pay the expense? I, for one, believe that it should be the Nebraska Republican Party, as that is who this visit benefits, and that is who invited him. Or...am I just making too much of it?