Posted on 10/10/2002 7:13:41 PM PDT by GailA
Sundquist in Europe on taxpayer expense
Governor has "special travel status" Nancy Amons
October 10, 2002
Governor Don Sundquist and a delegation of state employees were in Milan, Italy, on Thursday -- and the taxpayers are footed the bill. Sundquist, his wife and half a dozen state officials left the capitol 11 days ago on a trade mission to Europe. His staff says the trip is vital to the economic success of Tennessee. On Thursday, the I-Team asked: What's this costing the taxpayers?
Italy -- a setting of Renaissance Opulance -- that's how the Westin Palace in Milan bills its hotel. This is where the Governor, his wife and six other state officials are staying Thursday night -- and you're paying for it. They are on a 12-day trip to Europe at taxpayer expense. The trade mission includes four days in London, four days in Barcelona, Spain, and four days in Milan.
The trip is sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD). They say these trips are important to promote new capital investments in Tennessee. And what will it cost? ECD sent three employees, including Commissioner Tony Grande and two Governor’s staffers.
State records show their hotels average $350 a night -- transportation: $3500 each. So far that's $54,835. That doesn't include an advance trip by ECD employee Anne Locke in the Spring -- another $6,631. And it doesn't include the state trooper who guards the Governor in Europe: $18,270. New subtotal: $79,736.
But wait. That doesn't include expenses for the Governor himself and the First Lady. How much is the Governor's room and airfare costing us? The I-Team asked the Governor's office, who refused to say. Instead, they gave us this state form that says the Governor gets "special travel status" and his "expenses are not subject to the limits" of other state employees.
Past I-Team reports showed the Governor and his wife usually stay in much more expense rooms two-room suites. The I-Team told you two years ago that one hotel suite in Paris for the First Lady cost $948 a night.
This time the Governor's office isn't saying how much of your tax money the Governor is spending to sleep in Renaissance Opulance. And what might a two-bedroom suite at that hotel in Milan cost? I called the hotel Thursday. They tell me it's about $1800 a night. We won't know what the taxpayers paid for the Governor's room until his expense reports are due in a month or two.
That's right, just like California! Now that Tennessee Democratic politicians have supped at the public trough they will be inclined to relieve themselves in foreign privies.
Pass the Chianti, Al!
WANNA COME ALONG?
That's really fairly repulsive.
I don't recall whether I got into this on the Australia / New Zealand thread you posted, but in days now gone by I had a managerial position with a large corporation and I used to attend meetings that were very nice. Good hotels, nice dinners, etc.
The number of times we spent money like that?
There were none. It never happened. We never got even close.
I remember one time on a trip when someone got drunk and ordered some Balluga (sp?) caviar and a $200 bottle of wine. He was allowed to get away with it at the time, but he was summarily fired the following Monday morning. You don't do stuff like that.
There was compensation, which was based on job performance. This sometimes included trips which included spouses. These would typically be very nice. They also showed up on your year-end tax reporting. There was no pretense that these were business trips. They were bonuses. Rewards.
They were never nearly as fancy as what your governor is treating himself to, but they were very nice. Luxurious, according to my standards. Not according to his, apparently.
Then, there were serious business trips. They treated us quite well on these, but there was never anything that was extravagent. They worked our butts off.
This BS about promoting trade is pure crap. All they are doing is taking first-class snokeling trips at taxpayer expense.
Your governor should be in handcuffs and behind bars.
I can see why TN needs a tax increase.
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