Romney Used Conservation Money For Super Bowl Rally

[Catchawave]

Department Head Protested and Was Fired

WASHINGTON -- February 14 -- Brushing aside the objections of his own department head, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney took approximately $45,000 in states parks and conservation money to stage a pre-Super Bowl send-off rally for the New England Patriots football team. Romney then summarily fired the state's Conservation and Recreation chief and her top deputy.

Approximately 2,500 people attended the January 30th rally at Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium that prominently featured Romney. This low attendance meant that DCR spent approximately $18 per attendee. In addition, the Governor’s office admits that DCR was not the only state agency making a financial contribution toward the Patriots event; thus, the final taxpayer subsidy will be even higher.

On Friday, February 4th, Romney abruptly terminated DCR Commissioner Katherine Abbott who had opposed using that much money for the celebration. On February 7th, the number two official at DCR, Pam DiBona, was also forced to resign.

“Mitt Romney believes in bread and circuses but not checks and balances,” stated Kyla Bennett, the New England Director for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which has criticized Romney for shortchanging environmental programs. “Under Romney, the level of commitment that the Commonwealth will make toward the environment for the rest of this year evidently depends on how good a season the Celtics and the Red Sox have.”.....more


http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0214-04.htm

[sniffa]

1. that's my gubnuh

what a maggot. go back to utah!

[wicket]

4. Me too

:puke:

[AP]

2. So, how does that compare to what Kevin Shelley did?

[Catchawave]

7. I had to Google, so

I just read about Shelley....I was away from DU for about 2 weeks, never again...heh.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/05/MNGC2B6LOC1.DTL

Is this what you're referring to? Obviously, if Romney thinks he didn't do anything wrong, then it's not wrong? <sarcasm>

[lukasahero]

3. How did we end up with this idiot?

We're supposed to be those "Massachusetts liberals" and yet we actually voted for this moran?! (Well, I didn't but...)

GO HOME MITT and take your crappy Republican "morals" with you!

[Catchawave]

8. How's the press treating Romney in MA ?

I'm in VA and would be outraged if our Gov diverted any funds from any worthwhile program for a FOOTBALL party. Surely the owners of the Pats could have paid for this!

[lukasahero]

9. Haven't seen anything yet

That doesn't mean it's not out there, just means I haven't been reading... Of course the owners could have paid for it.

Luckily we do have the Boston Globe here which seems to be one of the few "mainstream" newspapers on the planet these days that actually does investigative journalism still. :)

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Cross-post on the Massachusetts Forum & Email to everyone you know

in the State!!

[merbex]

6. Memo to Reilly:file this away for general election

I'm tired of Repug Govs in MA

[AntiCoup2K4]

10. Not surprising.

Shit Romney believes he will be God of his own planet one day, so why should he give a shit about this one?