Posted on 08/21/2008 4:41:57 AM PDT by Libloather
Nutter defends using tax $$ to pay for aides' Denver trip
By CATHERINE LUCEY
Philadelphia Daily News
Posted on Thu, Aug. 21, 2008
Mayor Nutter says that it's OK to use city tax dollars to pay for his staff to attend the Democratic National Convention next week.
Other mayors have made the opposite call. The mayors of Baltimore, Boston and Chicago are using their campaign committees to pay for their entourages to travel to Denver for the convention.
"It's a political trip, it's not like a mayor's conference, it's a party conference," said Sterling Clifford, spokesman for Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. "The city doesn't pay for those things."
Nutter's travel will be paid for by his campaign committee. But the city is paying the travel expenses for Nutter's five-person team, estimated at less than $10,000.
Nutter yesterday said that he stood by the decision to use city money to pay for three staffers - spokesman Doug Oliver, special assistant Jordan Schwartz and senior adviser Terry Gillen - to accompany him, as well as two security officers.
"As long as they're doing their jobs and are not involved in politics, it's more than appropriate," Nutter said. "They know their jobs. They know the rules."
Nutter said that he will not use campaign dollars to pay for his staff in Denver because that would mean that his staffers were doing political work, which is forbidden under city law.
Nutter said that his staff would be in Denver strictly to support him and would not be involved in Democratic Party politics. Chief Integrity Officer Joan Markman signed off on the decision to use city money.
The city Ethics Board has not weighed in on the matter. Because the city charter does not address the issue of city workers' attending political conventions to help the mayor, there doesn't appear to be any matter for the board to consider, said Executive Director Shane Creamer.
Zack Stalberg, who heads the Committee of Seventy, criticized the use of city money on convention travel.
"I think it was clear to just about everybody but the mayor that this was an expense that should be paid by his campaign funds," Stalberg said. "It's clearly a political event; he's going for political reasons. He's bringing people to enhance his image for political reasons."
Stalberg also questioned whether the city would be paying for meals and expenses for Nutter and his staff. He noted that the city workers should not be taking gifts, like free meals, in Denver.
Nutter said he'll be paying for his own food out of pocket, and added that he will pay for his staff or they will pay for themselves. "I tend to eat on my own and pay for my own meals," he said. "I tend not to scarf the shrimp."
Other mayors are using political committees to pay for staff and security. Dixon will travel with three staffers and two security officers, Clifford said.
A spokesman said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino would go to Denver with one security officer. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley also will use a campaign fund to pay for himself and three staffers, said spokeswoman Jacqueline Heard. *
Nutter is being groomed by Ed Rendell to become the next governor of Pennsylvania.
Of course Nutter feels this way.
The Pennsylvania Democrat Party used taxpayer money for their last political campaign and now many are being indicted and are under investigation.
Pennsylvania is probally second only to Chicago Ill. for corupt Democrats....
I don’t see it happening. Nutter’s attempts at gun-grabbing will kill him in the vast red region between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. We just need a very strong GOP candidate tot ake him on when the time comes. Maybe Santorum?
Nutter is being groomed by Ed Rendell to become the next governor of Pennsylvania.
Not goping to happen. While we in Pa may be stupid enough to elect a political hack like Rendell I gotta believe we would not elect a criminal like Nutter. He runs Philadelphia like a crime syndicate.
There is corruption in the Philadelphia city government? I’m shocked, shocked!
Exactly. They are just trying to get over. Why shouldn’t they use that money? It’s free money.
What are the chances, realistically, that McCain will carry PA this year?
Rules are for suckers = rat mantra.
If the voters in Pa. could elect Casey to the senate and give Obama a five point lead in the polls they are capable of electing Nutter. Especially if the Republicans can’t come up with a good candidate. I’d love to see Pat Toomey run but the RINO leadership in Pa. would never go for that.
Ethics in Phila? Who knew?
He should have changed his name before entering politics. Governor Nutter sounds like a character from Animal House.
PA needs to wake up!
The rules do not apply to our overlords. Long ago public service ceased to be public service. Its amazing though isn’t it?
$10,000? What are they staying in a Motel 6?
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