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Old 06-30-2006, 10:16 AM   #11 (permalink)
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The following is the only precedent that I could find for actually demanding payment from the POTUS for local costs of providing security during a presidential "visit". This "story" was also reported about, several times in the Washington Rev. Sun Yung Moon owned, Times....

This was a highly partisan influenced "move". and I can find no record of whether the $2188.40 "bill" was actaully paid:
Quote:
Hyde Park awaits Democrats' check
Poughkeepsie Journal (NY)
August 6, 2000
Author: Poughkeepsie Journal

John Davis

HYDE PARK - The next time the Town of Hyde Park bills the Democratic Leadership Council, it will do it via registered mail.
Town Supervisor Yancy F. McArthur said last week it's been at least a month since he wrote and had mailed a letter to DLC headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The town is seeking reimbursement of $2,188 in town police overtime costs that resulted May 21 when President Clinton addressed a DLC gathering at the Franklin D. Roosevelt estate in Hyde Park.

But neither McArthur - nor anyone else in town hall - has yet to receive a reply. "They should have gotten it," McArthur said. "I know that I wrote it."

The town police, along with other local law enforcement agencies, provided security and traffic control May 21 as the Clinton motorcade made its way to and from the Dutchess County Airport in the Town of Wappinger.

But a majority of the Hyde Park Town Board members did not see Clinton's appearance in Hyde Park to address the private gathering of the DLC as an official presidential visit. Rather, they saw it as a political event not worthy of town support.

GOP members backed bill

The DLC is a national organization of Democrats dedicated to electing politically-moderate Democrats to state and national offices. Clinton is a former chairman of the group.

The four Republican members of the Hyde Park board voted June 26 to bill the DLC the $2,188 in police overtime. The board's only Democrat, Bob Kampf, voted against the resolution.

Matt Frankel, the DLC press secretary in Washington, said Thursday that no letter or bill has yet to arrive from Hyde Park town hall.

"As far as I know, we have not received any type of letter from the town," Frankel said.

The town supervisor said he was surprised to hear his correspondence had not been received or acknowledged by the DLC. He said he will try sending the letter again, but increase the postage enough to require that the letter be signed when received.

"Maybe they're saying they didn't get it to ignore it. That's why if we send it certified next time around there's no excuse," said McArthur. "We'll get a copy of that back with a signature."
For a "world class" city, the added security cost to host Bush's nomination ceremony in 2004, was an extra $40 million for NYC:
Quote:
APPLE TO GET $25M FOR GOP BASH
New York Post (NY)
November 27, 2003
Author: Deborah Orin

WASHINGTON - New York stands to get $25 million from Uncle Sam to help pay for security at next summer's Republican convention to renominate President Bush, state lawmakers say.
The money - along with $25 million to pay for security at the Democratic convention in Boston - is now part of a broad spending bill slated for final approval within weeks, said Sens. Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

There was worry about whether Congress would OK the $25 million because of deficit concerns among conservatives.

One key source said: "At one point I thought it was going to fail."

The actual security cost to New York is estimated at $65 million. The NYPD plans to deploy 6,500 officers to protect Republicans holding their first-ever Big Apple national convention.

The Department of Homeland Security designated both conventions as "national special security events." Similar taxpayer aid was given to the Salt Lake City Olympics. The GOP convention is set for Aug. 28-Sept. 2.

Boston is in especially desperate need of the money since Beantown, unlike New York, is having trouble raising the private funds it pledged to help pay convention costs.
IMO, the change that is unusual, is that the one party that controls the congress and the executive branch, does not enjoy a base of voter support that originates in metro areas that are more accustomed, and have more financial and police resources to host the visits of high profile politcal figures.

Bush and Cheney go where they receive the most accolades and friendliest reaction....in less populated, more suburban and rural venues than in past administrations. They are also more challenging to protect....because of the controversy that surrounds both of them, and because of the self fulfilling message of fear that they seem to be the architects of and draw political support from.
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