Dave Funk on Leonard Boswell's Misuse of Tax Dollars

Dave Funk ^ | 03/12/10 | Dave Funk

[geniusbyosmosis]

This past week we started noticing mailers popping up in mailboxes. A digital copy of which can be seen at www.congressneedsfunk.com/news, on the front is a wonderful picture of Leonard Boswell clapping with the words "Congress Leonard Boswell Creating Jobs For Iowa Families." He then goes on to share everything he's done this past year. As a matter of fact, one of his great claims on the mailer is how he put Iowans to work. Boswell said, "The state has disbursed $1.28 billion that has created or maintained 9,095 jobs in the state as of December 31, 2009."

This is actually kind of funny because back on December 03, 2009 Leonard Boswell posted a YouTube video where he said the ARRA allocated;

"...more than $1.5 billion has been obligated for projects so far and 5,336 jobs have been created or saved in construction, education, public safety and other industries" (1:11).

I don't know how in one month he doubled those meager jobs results but that's not really the issue here. The issue is that our Congressional Representative is spending taxpayers’ dollars on this campaign mailer. Look at the back of the mailer to find the notice, "this mailing was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense."

Not only did Leonard Boswell have the audacity to double the numbers for this election year but even went so far as to publish his personal Facebook and Twitter accounts on the mailer. Accounts that are used for campaign purposes and have no official government purpose!

This is not the type of leadership we need in Iowa. This is not the type of representation we want in Washington. While I understand that individuals from both sides of the aisle practice this it is inappropriate behavior that should not be accepted on any level. Its one thing to spend taxpayers’ money, our money, on things that will better Iowa, but to spend it on campaign mailers that are promoting your campaign communication outlets at the taxpayers’ expense is corrupt and bad judgment. This is just further proof that Boswell is out of touch with Iowa and does a better job of representing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama than he does his very own constituents in Iowa District Three.

www.CongressNeedsFunk.com

Paid for by Funk for Congress

[geniusbyosmosis]

I know other politicians do this, both R and D, but it should be known that whether times are good or bad, wasting the taxpayers money for personal gain or any other reason is unacceptable.

[Cicero]

One of the reasons I admire Sarah Palin is that she not only cut spending from the Alaska state budget while she was governor, she also refused to accept pork for Alaska from the federal government.

Until we have patriotic politicians willing to do that, and voters who will support them for doing it, we will not even begin to put an end to all this massive spending.

Obviously this guy thinks that bringing more federal pork to his state will please the voters. And he’s probably right.

[jcsjcm]

Why don’t they just give each of those 9035 people that they saved or added $140,736,668 each and watch them create businesses of their own which would then employ so many more.

This just boggles my mind!

Since December they spent 1.28 billion to create or save 9,035 jobs??????? WIGOH or what is going on here?

This just does not make any sense to me? Maybe my calculation is incorrect, but I think I put enough zeros onto this to come up with how much was spent to save or create just 1 job.

[geniusbyosmosis]

You put in three extra zeros. It would be $140,000 plus dollars. Still....a lot of money for a single job. Here’s the real kicker. The jobs are in what would be considered non-productive industries (construction, teachers, law enforcement). Meaning, no matter what, these jobs will not create more jobs. And once funds run out again they will all get laid off as quickly as they were hired.

[jcsjcm]

Oops, I figured I messed that one up but still you are right! Since I only make approx. $30,000 per year and that is if it’s a good year (yes, construction job - administration). That money would keep me going for at least 4 years or I could become an entrepreneur and keep me and possibly others going for many years to come.

I’m so, so, tired of these suits that have no clue about business. The american people as a whole are very creative, but they can not survive with all these rules.

[geniusbyosmosis]

While I’m sure you’re probably not from Iowa and this really has no bearing on you, just thought I would link this, http://www.funkforcongress.com/news/funk-wont-participate-in-earmarks-gibbons-zaun-should-follow-suit.html

[Cicero]

No, I don’t vote there, but the information is interesting.

What remains to be seen is whether that will be a selling point. Unfortunately a lot of voters keep returning corrupt politicians to office precisely because they bring in a lot of pork. Murtha was a good recent example. I hope Funk can successfully make the argument the other way. Because I’m sure his opponents will tell people, “Times are tough. We NEED federal money!” Somehow, people need to be weaned off of that attitude.