Posted on 06/03/2004 8:30:36 AM PDT by John Jorsett
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger dispatched a military jet and a 15-person team in April to retrieve an ailing state senator who was visiting Brazil — at a cost to taxpayers of $147,187, the administration confirmed Wednesday.
Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara), who has returned to work in Sacramento, said he was nearing the end of a nine-day goodwill trip to Brazil — paid for with campaign funds — when he started feeling pressure in his chest.
Vasconcellos said he had undergone heart bypass surgery nearly 20 years ago, and was concerned about a possible heart attack 6,300 miles from home.
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If he used campaign funds to go to Brazil he should have used campaign funds to get home.
I'm mixed about this. If a company sends somebody on a business trip to another country and that person becomes ill, the company usually takes care of that person. It's the State this time, so I don't have a real problem except that he probably didn't need to go to Brazil to begin with.
Horse Manure!
This clown could have caught a flight our of Brazil the same as any other person...
"pains in his chest" B.S.!
147 GRAND? I don't think so...not out of my pocket!!!
As they should since the person was sent by the company, is acting on the companies behalf, and was performing his job duties.
It's the State this time, so I don't have a real problem except that he probably didn't need to go to Brazil to begin with
No. It wasn't the state. He was in Brazil by his own accord, on a "goodwill mission" of his own doing, paid for by his campaign funds. Therefore, his campaign should be forced to pay back the state the monies it spent to bring him home.
Especially when it's not yours.
The last part is the key. If it was a necessary trip, the state would be paying for it. Since he was using campaign funds, it sounds like more of a vacation paid for with unused campaign money. Therefore, he ought to reimburse the state with the same money.
Too late.
As long as his self esteem is intact"
Vasconcellos.....that old coot....
....I guess his ticker got overloaded while administering some "self-esteem" to the local ladies
Darned straight. Here is hoping Schwarzenegger very publicly says so in the next few days. I mean, it's rather like an ambulance fee, isn't it? Even if you don't manage to CALL an ambulance, if one comes and saves you, I believe you're legally obligated to pay the reasonable fees of the ambulance.
I believe that is true. I know here in NC there is an organization that you can join for $50 a year and everyone in your family is covered for ambulance service.
It's just one happy family in Sacramento - floating bonds, reaching deals to have ILLEGALS with drivers licenses, etc. The "Two-Party Cartel" is alive in the states also.
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