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Your Tax Dollars at Work
For Rick Goddard!
Rick Goddard has subsidized his campaign with your federal tax dollars and refuses to pay you back.
On June 23, 2008, the Vice President flew into Macon on Air Force Two. After landing, the Vice President was driven to Perry where he spoke as the guest of honor at Goddard's fundraiser that evening. The cost of the trip? According to data published by the GAO , the Committee on Government Reform, and the Washington Post , such a trip would cost $387,178.58 (see chart 1 below) . And the cost to Goddard? According to the Macon Telegraph, Goddard paid only $15,000 despite his spokeman's pledge to pay the full cost of the trip. That's a hefty $372,178.58 tab Goddard left for the taxpayers to pick up.
Despite significant criticism for not reimbursing the taxpayers for his fundraiser, Goddard held yet another taxpayer-subsidized fundraiser a month later. On July 22nd , after arriving on Air Force One, the President shut down I-75 in Atlanta as he drove to and from a Goddard fundraiser in Buckhead. And how much for this second trip? Again, according to the GAO, this trip cost $454,591.63 (see chart 2 below) . And Goddard's share? Rather than pay the true cost, Goddard's campaign claimed that the law allowed for publicly-financed fundraisers and that they would pay $40,000. Of course, less than a week later their story changed and their share was down to $20,000.
Despite pledging to pay the full cost of the first trip Goddard has only paid the RNC $15,000 for the first trip. After claiming that the law allows them to pay less than 10% of such a trip's full cost and later cutting that to 5%, to date, not one dime has been paid for the second trip.
These two trips, before adding interest and less Goddard's $15,000 down payment, have cost the taxpayers $826,770.21. Bottom line: American taxpayers should not be paying for any candidate's fundraiser. Goddard and any recipient of such political help should immediately reimburse the taxpayers the full cost of the trip. It's just the right thing to do.
Check back here to see if Goddard repays the taxpayers or if he holds any more fundraisers at your expense.
Chart 1
Detailed Government Reform Committee using GAO numbers / Washington Post
Adjusted for inflation and increases in aviation fuel prices |
Item |
Inflation Adjusted Cost Per Hour |
Inflation adjusted gas Cost increase |
Hours |
Low trip cost |
High trip cost |
Air Force Two |
$17,522.68 |
$3,955.57 |
1.2 |
$24,982.79 |
$24,982.79 |
cargo plane |
$8,755.68 |
$3,767.74 |
1.2 |
$14,274.56 |
$14,274.56 |
Helicopter |
$7,041.03 |
$61.23 |
0.5 |
$3,581.75 |
$3,581.75 |
Helicopter |
$7,041.03 |
$61.23 |
0.5 |
$3,581.75 |
$3,581.75 |
Helicopter |
$7,041.03 |
$61.23 |
0.5 |
$3,581.75 |
$3,581.75 |
security |
4x staff cost |
4 x staff cost |
|
$139,687.20 |
$269,740.80 |
Staff/advance/motorcade |
$29,000 $56,000 |
|
|
$34,921.80 |
$67,435.20 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$224,611.58 |
$387,178.58 |
Chart 2
Detailed Government Reform Committee using GAO numbers / Washington Post Adjusted for inflation and increases in aviation fuel prices |
Item |
Inflation Adjusted Cost Per Hour |
Inflation adjusted gas Cost increase |
Hours |
Low trip cost |
High trip cost |
Air Force One |
$68,057.80 |
$11,137.44 |
1.2 |
$92,806.80 |
$92,806.80 |
cargo plane |
$8,755.68 |
$3,375.86 |
1.2 |
$13,882.68 |
$13,882.68 |
helicoptor |
$7,041.03 |
$54.87 |
0.5 |
$3,575.39 |
$3,575.39 |
helicoptor |
$7,041.03 |
$54.87 |
0.5 |
$3,575.39 |
$3,575.39 |
helicoptor |
$7,041.03 |
$54.87 |
0.5 |
$3,575.39 |
$3,575.39 |
security |
4x staff cost |
4 x staff cost |
|
$139,687.20 |
$269,740.80 |
Staff/advance/motorcade |
$29,000 - $56,000 |
$34,921.80 - $67,435.20 |
|
$34,921.80 |
$67,435.20 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$292,024.63 |
$454,591.63 |
Learn more
7.24.08: Vice president Cheney campaigns for congressional candidate
7.22.08: Details from the fund-raising side of the Bush visit
6.26.08: BUSH FUNDRAISER form the Macon Telegraph Political Notebook
3.1.06: THE COST OF PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICAL TRAVEL
10.29.08: The Cost of Presidential Travel Is Anyone's Guess
8.1.00: Presidential Travel DOD Airlift Cost for White House Foreign Travel |
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