Strickland or Clinton Should Reimburse the State for Security Detail! From Cols Dispatch:

[mod mom]

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:01 AM

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Strickland logged a lot of hours to support Clinton

Gov. Ted Strickland spent part or all of 22 days from November through the March 4 primary campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to a schedule provided by his office.

After Strickland endorsed Sen. Clinton on Nov. 9 last year, he spent three days in Iowa, one evening in Chicago and one day in South Carolina on her behalf. This year, he campaigned throughout Ohio before the primary with Clinton or her husband, Bill.

-snip

In addition, three of Strickland's staff members took compensatory time to work on the campaign. Two staffers traveled with Strickland, while Aaron Pickrell, who managed Strickland's 2006 gubernatorial campaign, was an adviser to Clinton's campaign in Ohio, Dailey said.

Clinton's campaign paid the travel costs for Strickland when he was stumping for the senator, although Ohio taxpayers covered $3,840 for travel, meal and lodging costs for the governor's security detail, as mandated by law, according to the State Highway Patrol. The troopers' salary, including overtime, for the days Strickland was campaigning was $3,964.



http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/


MANDATED-THAT'S CRAZY! WHY SHOULD OHIO TAXPAYERS PAY FOR $3,840 FOR TRAVEL & $3,964 FOR TROOPER SALARIES ESPECIALLY AT TIME OF BUDGET CUTS?

[peace13]

1. Who pays for the security for Obama when he is out and about?

I was in Columbus to see him and there was a boatload of security there. As far as
sTrickland goes his behavior in this election has caused me to question what kind of a Dem he really is. Barely in office and he divides the Dems in our troubled state by endorsing Clinton. From your post it looks like he has taken plenty of time off to hump for her as well. My only hope is that our SOS can lock the hen house before we have another stolen election.

[AngryOldDem]

4. Secret Service, Homeland Security protect the candidates

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/28/AR2007052801159_pf.html

Obama, in fact, was one of the first to get such protection.

[MeDeMax]

2. I don't care for this report

I support Obama, but I don't fault our governor for stumping for Hillary.

And if everyone is really that upset that taxpayers shouldn't pay for his security detail when he is involved in the presidential race, start a donation fund to refund the taxpayer expense.

Be careful what you wish for, tomorrow you may need this same popular governor to stump for Obama in bitter divisive battle with John McCain.

Ted is 99.99% good for this state, don't kill the golden goose lest we retreat to the dark ages in Ohio.

[AngryOldDem]

3. I have to disagree with you here.

If this was not state business, then yes, I do have a problem with the state paying for it. If Ted wants to stump for a candidate, that's fine. But not on my dime. And I would say that if the candidate is Obama.

The security, and the compensation for the staffers, should come out of HRC's coffers.

Again, this proves the point of the troublesome aspect of elected officials having such an intimate role in campaigns, especially at the primary level. And I reiterate: Endorsements are fine. Beyond that, though, you enter A LOT of gray area that I think in these times are just best avoided if possible. Just my $0.02.

[MeDeMax]

7. But I agree with you...

that we shouldn't be paying for any elected official to stump for a candidate.

But as things stand today, he didn't break any rules, all his activities were lawful.

[peace13]

5. After his bobble headed endorsement of Hillary

I have lost faith in him amounting to much. I would like to hear him come out and support our SOS and the work needed to clean up our elections. Looks like he has some spare time now, maybe he can get to that. I do not expect him to endorse Obama and I hope that he does not. He has done his damage here.

[mod mom]

6. He seems to have a lot of time to offer Hillary at a time when our state's economy is tanking.

He is going to end up sorry for this-it divided the Ohio Dems against him and he has picked up the nickname Gov Bobblehead after the endless loop of head showing him bobbling was played over and over on televsion & the internet.

[peace13]

8. I agree with you there! n/t

[OhioBlue]

10. I agree - he should totally throw his support behind

Jennifer Brunner in her efforts to clean up elections.

[Kolesar]

9. This reads like grumpy RW irritation about the Democratic governor

The Dispatch thinks that they can throw in "Clinton" and "taxpayer money" and get their irritable RW readers "all in a pucker". :coffee:

[peace13]

11. Good point! n/t

[Lady President]

12. What about Mayor Coleman?

Mayor Coleman spent tons of time stumping for Obama. I assume that we should be reimbursed for his time as well, right? Plus, there has already been a tremendous amount of overtime put in by local police. Do the candidates split the overtime costs? Do we deduct the extra money that was brought into the state for hotels and meals from their tally? It's pretty easy to go down that slippery slope.

Your anger should be at the very right-winged Dispatch. They would like nothing more than to keep our Dem. leaders from supporting our candidates, and this is a convenient excuse. They held back when Rep. leaders were blowing insane amounts of money, but now they're outraged at $8000? Please.

[ladym55]

13. One problem I have with this

The governor has set very strict guidelines for travel, meals, etc. for state employees. We all need to save money ... be careful. So when he spends freely to support HIS candidate it looks bad.