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- XenonofArcticus, on 02/04/2009, -25/+219$500k over five years = $100k a year. If they have only one three-day retreat a year, that's $33k a day for all of the attendees. I don't know about you, but I've spent that much putting on a corporate training session -- that's nothing. Per-diem in DC itself is nearly $300 (a day). So at that rate, you could have 110 people attend a bare-bones event. I don't know how many attended this event, but it doesn't strike me as a champagne and caviar bash. It strikes me as someone looking for some big number they can hold over the Dems' heads, but it's pretty much much ado about nothing. And puh-leaze, you want to blame Obama for something that has happened over the last 5 years? The guy just got the keys to the country. Blame him for what he's doing now. [sarcasm] And I'm absolutely positive the Republicans have never held any lavish meetings of their own.[/sarcasm]
- momw, on 02/04/2009, -22/+115Common Cause’s Sarah Dufendach said she would rather have taxpayer money than special-interest money funding retreats. But she said this year, both Republicans and Democrats would have been better served by having their retreat locally at a place such as the Library of Congress.
“It would have been really good PR for both sides to stay home and bring a box lunch,” she said. - johnhummel, on 02/05/2009, -6/+75Waaait a second - you're using that "math" and "logic" thing. Stop doing that - just see the numbers and freak out! That's the rule!
- MacParrot, on 02/05/2009, -5/+65Did anyone actually READ the article? This is spread out over 5 years and most of that was for transportation, an Amtrak train to get them all there at once PLUS costs for the security detail for Pelosi (who is third in line for the Presidency). While it might have been nice in these tough times for them to just do this locally in facilities that would have been at a much lower cost, in the grand scheme of things political this really isn't that big a deal.
And yes I would have said the same if it had been the repubs instead of the demos (registered independent as I think both sides are full of scoundrels). Someone earlier mentioned term limits for Congress. I'm all for it but not for something as frivolous as this. - John1744, on 02/05/2009, -7/+63Hmm thats actually not bad at all. 5 years of retreats for 500K I personally would say thats pretty damn good. Considering how much money gets wasted in washinton on other things.
- phike, on 02/05/2009, -10/+58Dude, $100,000/year for all Democrat caucus retreats is not that much money. I do not consider this frivolous spending.
- Chahrlie5, on 02/04/2009, -34/+82Can't the millionaire reps pay for this themselves..
- pickleprince, on 02/04/2009, -6/+53Yeah, didn't that article say that the Republican retreats are paid for by lobbyists?
Just sayin' - DOCNM, on 02/05/2009, -1/+40I was looking at that too: the house is over 400 members, so say about 200 dems. That is about $500 per person in total or $170/day. Scientific conferences are more expensive.
- chriskzoo, on 02/04/2009, -47/+85"Do as we say, not as we do."
- Chjoma10, on 02/05/2009, -7/+41500,000 in five years.... really NOT that bad.
- Insightful, on 02/05/2009, -30/+64Bush spending one trillion dollars in Iraq with over 4,000 soliders' lives lost.
*** Chirp ***
Democrats spending $500K on a retreat.
*** OMFG! ***
The hypocrisy is deafening in here. - chiefquanah, on 02/04/2009, -7/+41It would be even better if they funded these retreats themselves and not use either special-interest money or taxpayer funds.
- spucky, on 02/05/2009, -11/+44Over 5 years! My God! How much did they spend over 20 years? That's probably even worse.
- Pxtl, on 02/05/2009, -6/+38Seriously, $500k over 5 YEARS for how many democratic party members to run retreats?
You do remember that these are the people running your country, too, right? I mean, it's a pretty important job. Last time I checked, big, important jobs ought to pay well so that you don't get people whose only incentive to do the job is corruption.
This is every bit as much of a non-story as how much the parties spend on wardrobes or haircuts. - woodrow8292, on 02/04/2009, -53/+83Hmmmm so let me get this right...Private Companies must cancel their retreats that use tax payer money but Dem's can spend tax payer money on the same type of retreats. CEO's get slammed for private jets, but Dem's pay to fly in speakers on private jets. And staying in DC and meeting somewhere there is out of the question for the Dem's because?
Another great Do as we say not as we do from our elected officials. TERM LIMITS anyone? - Mullinsmcd, on 02/05/2009, -2/+31You hit the nail on the head. My company (not receiving any bailout funding btw) spent over $1M in ONE YEAR to train us new hires for a few weeks. We had all meals paid for but this was not a swanky arrangement by any means. It was an older resort on the outskirts of Atlanta GA. Suffice to say that it would have been absolutely cheaper to stay in DC and use government facilities there, its incredibly shortsighted to claim that this is extreme use of government money.
- Jashobeam5, on 02/04/2009, -5/+33Politicians don't understand using their own money.
- laupan, on 02/04/2009, -53/+78Hmmmm, I thought this admim was to be one of change for the better. I would think the PRESIDENT would step in and let them know the Good ole Days for free spending of the people's money are over.
Let's make a statement here Mr. President. They want a retreat let them go to an inner city motel and instead of the golf course let them network in a inner city school. - donsnyc, on 02/05/2009, -8/+32Did any of you read the article? The 500K was spent in the past for over 5 years.
- DangerCollie, on 02/05/2009, -2/+26$100K sounds like a lot but for a big meeting that is pretty much bare bones. If someone told me the Republicans spent $500K over five years on retreats I'd wonder why they weren't showing that kind of fiscal restraint earlier. In state government, a poor department, we spent $60K taking 35 people on a three day retreat and the rooms were pretty shabby.
By staying in VA they saved the cost of air fare.
I'm all for ripping big spending, but this isn't it. Looks more like the right wing press trying to gain political points by whipping a mole hill into a mountain. - REBECCAFRIEDMAN, on 02/04/2009, -13/+36I agree, this is simply disgusting at a time when the nation is suffering. Disgusting, irresponsible, business as usual. Another reminder of why I stopped working for the political machine 12 years ago, and never went back - totally corrupt and morally bankrupt. And now, making us financially bankrupt. Anyone have any good ideas about where to put our children's pathetically small college savings accounts? They lost almost 40% in the last year.
- AdmiralHalsey, on 02/05/2009, -2/+25You don't get rich by spending money... idiot.
/s - inactive, on 02/05/2009, -6/+29over 5 years? not even a million? WHOOP DE DO!
- Patriot556, on 02/04/2009, -3/+25I think the time has come for "we, the people" to finally take a stand on term limits, on spending by either political party, and on congressional retirement plans.
Why isn't "our" social security plan good enough for them?
Obviously, in "their" opinion it's certainly not enough for them ... can "we, the people" afford to stand for this any longer? - Bartboy919, on 02/04/2009, -11/+33God damn. I am so ***** tired of people speaking/spelling like they are retarded. The headline in no way makes grammatical sense, it should be "democratic caucus retreats" not "democrat caucus retreats". That's why its called the Democratic National Convention, because "Democratic" shows that the "Democratic Party" runs/owns the event, not the "democrat party". Democrat is a noun, while Democratic is an adjective.
Just had to get that off my chest. I have heard that ***** literally 10 times today. - pintocat, on 02/05/2009, -10/+32$500,000 over 5 years? A republican would spend that much in 1 year. Per attendee.
- inactive, on 02/04/2009, -6/+27Hey, if they're not taking tax money, I'm totally with you. No caps, no nothing. But the CEOs you're talkin' about already took that giant step down the road to serfdom, so ***** them.
Once these incompetents start getting bailouts, I not only want salary caps, I want Dennis ***** Kucinich in charge of enforcing 'em. Not only that, these ***** should feel lucky to get whatever Dennis gives, 'cuz if I had my way they'd be learning the words "would you like fries with that?" instead of being rewarded for failure.
The truly socialist reward for failure, which both McSame & Obambi voted FOR, is the socialist problem, and it's obviously a BIpartisan problem. To deal with it, it's important to face reality. - BradOFarrell, on 02/05/2009, -7/+26Wow! You could buy 4 seasons of clothing for Sarah Palin with that.
- bradleyjx, on 02/05/2009, -1/+19It's more the business culture of America than politics.
I want to invite 100 people to a conference in order to do X, Y, and Z. In the business culture today, an invitation usually means airfare (first-class worldwide), hotel (not a Motel 6), and everything that those people need while there. There are people that will simply say no if they don't get this, and those are usually the people that you need in order to get things done in the group.
Honestly, for the amount of money Senators/Congress gets in discretionary income, (from taxpayer funds) $100,000/year seems, well, cheap. - Pxtl, on 02/05/2009, -2/+19Dugg for common sense. There are probably cost-cutting measures that the dems could have taken in these retreats, but over all this is really penny-ante bull shiat.
- johnhummel, on 02/05/2009, -4/+21Not only that, but $500,000 over *five years*.
Not over one year, or two years. But five years. So about $100,000 a year. By the time you're done with per diem hotel, per diem meals - that's about $200 a day over three days, so now we're up to $600 for three days per person. Assume you have 100 people going, and you're now at $60,000 just for food and hotel.
Then there's this:
<blockquote>Individual lawmakers pay for most of the expenses related to retreat lodging through their campaign committees, but the Democratic Caucus subsidizes some of the costs for what aides consider “official business” — to the tune of nearly $100,000 each year, according to a Democratic aide involved in retreat planning.</blockquote>
Wait - so, most of the fees are paid by individual members, but the "leftover" is $100,000 which likely covers the paper, administration, scheduling, etc etc etc?
So I'm still trying to figure out what the scandal is. $100,000 for a retreat for a bunch of people isn't that much money. Or is it just "ZOMG $500,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE I CAN'T DO MATH"? - ThsGuyRightHere, on 02/05/2009, -10/+27Of course, you'll react with an equivalent amount of shock and outrage when you see hom much the Republicans have spent on thier caucuses right?
- ftx437, on 02/04/2009, -12/+28oooo thats only 20 min from me...maybe i should go stop by and say hi!
- ThsGuyRightHere, on 02/05/2009, -6/+22The president != Congress
- mgraham80, on 02/05/2009, -6/+22Did you even read the article? The Republicans do the same thing, they just get lobbyists to pay for their retreats. Frankly, I'd rather Taxpayers pick up the tab.
- twiztidsinz, on 02/05/2009, -7/+21I think you miss the part that it was OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
- MacParrot, on 02/05/2009, -7/+21Sorry that doesn't really fly. If you are asked to go on a trip for your work AND you had to pay for it yourself how would you respond?
On the other hand, there were many suitable alternatives to Williamsburg that wouldn't have cost nearly as much. I do agree that Congress (both parties) need to be more careful about wasting taxpayers money though. - ChoosyMother, on 02/04/2009, -5/+19I think the DeepProbe has touched your brain.
- inactive, on 02/04/2009, -5/+18Why not. You're paying for part of it.
- Insightful, on 02/05/2009, -3/+16No. Being a Capitalist is to demand we get something in return for our money. To just give the CEOs the money without demanding anything is Socialist. Why are you defending the CEOs anyway?
- sidewinderaim9x, on 02/05/2009, -2/+15Move his comment to the top please.
- donsnyc, on 02/05/2009, -5/+17Did any of you read the article? The 500K was spent in the past for over 5 years. I think it's a pretty low amount for more than 5 years of yearly meetings for all our lawmakers that runs to 100K or less per year.
- EagleRufio, on 02/05/2009, -7/+19OMFG you mean they spent 100,000 a year?! Do you have any idea how little that is in the grand scheme of government spending? Maybe if they spent 100,000 a year on each member, but if that's all who gives a *****.
- seamustry, on 02/05/2009, -3/+14Politicians think that tax money IS their money!
- 7m7uf, on 02/05/2009, -2/+13i was thinking the exact same thing. It's just 100k a year. A CEO from a big company probably makes that in a week. Look up information about the pay gap between CEOs and their workers - it's sad and sickening at the same time.
I love how everyone complains about taxing the rich more then the poor. Tax the rich 50% and they're still making way more money then most people. This was a drop in the bucket - and if they need to spend 100k so that they don't have to invite lobbiest then that's great; hell spend twice as much - just keep the people in mind when you're discussing whatever the hell ya'll are discussing. Just think, there is this big hoopla about limiting CEO pay to 400,000/yr for banks getting bailout money. I'd love 400,000/yr -- i'd run that *****' bank by myself for 400,000/yr. - AmericanAngle, on 02/04/2009, -5/+15We should all go & pull up a seat
- twiztidsinz, on 02/05/2009, -5/+15500k in the -PAST- five years.
See that? PAST. Not Present. Not NOW. - BradOFarrell, on 02/05/2009, -2/+12Also, that's only $100,000 a year on necessary retreats. That's really not that much at all.
- steevo, on 02/05/2009, -1/+10$500,000 over five years does not seem like a lot of money for what it is in fact it sound fairly cheap considering that probably includes transportation, lodging, food, conference rooms for all the members
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