Fla. governor's trip costs taxpayers $430K

[babylonsister]

Fla. governor's trip costs taxpayers $430K
Published: Dec. 7, 2008 at 5:08 PM


TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Florida taxpayers paid $430,000 for Gov. Charlie Crist's 12-day European tour this summer, a newspaper investigation found.

The Republican governor's trade mission to London, Paris, Madrid and St. Petersburg, Russia, was supposed to cost taxpayers $255,000, but the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Sunday that the tab was actually more than $430,000.

The newspaper said taxpayers footed the bill for Crist and his entourage of more than two dozen people, including a photographer, a spokeswoman, four aides, two agency heads and nine bodyguards.

The Sun-Sentinel's investigation found that the governor's bodyguards alone spent more than $148,000 on meals, hotels, transportation and incidentals, including nearly $630 in dry cleaning.

more...

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/07/Fla_governors_trip_costs_taxpayers_430K/UPI-55171228687699/

[Thrill]

1. File this one away. Just in case he runs against Obama

[terrya]

The Governor should make up the difference out of his own pocket.

Obviously.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. NINE bodyguards????

[Sannum]

4. Has he got tricks coming after him for not tipping?

[itsrobert]

5. Yup, they were guarding his body all right.

;)

[hlthe2b]

3. Typical REPUKE....

[peekaloo]

6. but, but, but he does it all for the benefit of "the people".

:eyes:

[camera obscura]

7. He should have at least used the money to travel to the Middle East and meet his state's troops

Visiting Europe on the taxpayer's dollar isn't going to help in the... shall we say, perceived-masculinity gap when he has to court the wingnuts come 2012.

[notadmblnd]

8. a half a million dollars for 12 days in Europe. That's some party.

[babylonsister]

9. Yup. A whopping good time was had by all, while Florida tanks. nt