Are Your Taxes Paying For Democratic Retreat?

NBC4i ^ | Feb. 5, 2009 | Denise Youst

[smokingfrog]

WASHINGTON —Is it a case of congressional Democrats saying one thing then doing another?

Legislators scolded financial executives for holding corporate retreats at posh hotels and now, the House Democratic Caucus is holding a legislative retreat this weekend in Williamsburg, Va. at a luxury spa and golf resort.

We wanted to know who’s picking up the tab—so NBC 4‘s Patrick Preston investigated to find out.

The Congressional Democrats are meeting at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, where members will pay between $119 and $400 each night for their rooms. But taxpayers pick up the rest of the cost.

Taxpayer dollars are being spent for transportation—a chartered Amtrak train—and security to protect members of Congress, as well as facility and speaker fees.

When Preston asked the spokesperson for the Democratic Caucus for the total taxpayer expense, he was told that no one had that answer.

Democratic Caucus spokeswoman Emily Barocas said they don’t have to report the costs until April, but The Hill newspaper in Washington reported that previous Democratic retreats have cost taxpayers more than $500,000 over the past five years.

Barocas also said, “We are conscious of the image of the retreat. This isn’t a chance to relax and get massages,“ adding that Kingsmill was chosen because it could accommodate a large group as the Democrats set their legislative agenda.

She also defended using taxpayer money by saying, “Republicans use lobbyists to fund their retreats. We feel that’s unethical. We split the costs.“

Local Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy’s representative said she is paying $975 from her campaign funds to attend. Congressman Zack Space won’t be at the Kingsmill, as he is meeting with constituents in Ohio.

Last weekend, Republicans attended a Virginia retreat indirectly subsidized by lobbyists.

House Republican Leader John Boehner’s spokesperson, Jessica Towhey said, “House Republicans comply with congressional ethics rules for our retreat, which is open to media coverage and is not paid for with taxpayers dollars.”

[smokingfrog]

Democrats planning their take-over of the country using your tax dollars.

[period end of story]

Four legs good, two legs better.

[VeniVidiVici]

The Congressional Democrats are meeting at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, where members will pay between $119 and $400 each night for their rooms. But taxpayers pick up the rest of the cost.

I can GUARANTEE that if you check the expense reports of these DEMOCRATS in a month or two you will find that each and every one of them will have submitted to get reimbursed for the cost of their rooms.

[Bon mots]

Unbelievable.

[EdReform]

Ping!

[Does so]

Title: Are Your Taxes Paying For Democratic Retreat?

I sure wish my taxes were paying for "Democrat retreat".

[EdReform]

BTTT

[techno]

So the Dems feel it in unethical for lobbyists to pay for the GOP retreat while in their case it is all right for the American taxpayers to share the cost of Congressman Rangel or Nancy Pelosi playing a round of golf or taking a dip in the pool.

For your information Libs, lobbyists and organizations who support them are private entities who are not forced to pay for the cost of the GOP retreat; they do it our of promoting their vested interests. AND IT IS NOT ILLEGAL. Every expense is documented.

But to take taxpayer money to fund a retreat for a political party is shameful and simply downright wrong.

[databoss]

More BS from the Do As I Say Not As I Do Administration... new name for Obama - "the Great Wagyu!"

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Four legs good, two legs better.”

Two legs goooooood, Obama bettttttttter.....

Ohhhhbaaaaaaaaama

[R. Scott]

Obama isn’t first, it’s almost tradition. When it happens now I just remember to stay off I-64, US 60 and 143 until it’s over. The motorcades were a real frustration back when I drove a cab.

[backhoe]

Spa-blogging Obama's Speech to House Dems On Retreat (Video)

The gall of these people...
Barack Obama is speaking to House Democrats on their trillion dollar stimulus bill at their taxpayer-funded spa retreat tonight.

Life is good for Democrats at their taxpayer funded Kingsmill retreats.

Obama flew down to see them this evening for the political event.

He just congratulated the liberal House for creating and passing the most massive spending bill in American history filled from top to bottom with pork for every Left Wing organization that helped get them get elected.

Obama just said the scale and scope of the bill is just right.
He also just excused the pork in the bill.
Obama says the point of a stimulus bill is "to spend."
That's what a stimulus bill is supposed to do- spend.

Obama said the bill must pass so schools won't keep falling... Huh?

The plan will end the "tyranny of oil" in our time.
--Maybe that's why they just scrapped oil and gas leases on land in Utah.

This group of thugs all got a good chuckle when he mentioned "Alaska."
It must have been an inside joke.

It's too bad no one asked him about the the 2 BILLION DOLLAR EARMARK — obtained by Rod Blagojevich.

Here are a few choice lines from his spa speech.
Notice the chuckles when he mentions Alaska:
(2 minutes 44 seconds)

It was a weak talk.

Actually, the Democrat spending spree is even worse than you think.
National Review has "50 De-Stimulating Facts" about the bill.

Lindsey Graham said it best earlier today-- “Scaring people is not leadership."

Thank goodness the Senate Leader does not have his 60 votes yet to pass this boondoggle.

posted by Gateway Pundit at 2/05/2009 05:34:00 PM

[bushfamfan]

This is the perfect opportunity for the Republicans to hit and continue to hit them on this issue. Things like this cannot be passed up. The Demonrat party are the biggest frauds going and this is more of the same corruption from the thugs who think they are above paying taxes and above living by the laws they would apply.

[EdReform]

But to take taxpayer money to fund a retreat for a political party is shameful and simply downright wrong.

Precisely

[SunkenCiv]

The Congressional Democrats are meeting at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, where members will pay between $119 and $400 each night for their rooms. But taxpayers pick up the rest of the cost. Taxpayer dollars are being spent for transportation -- a chartered Amtrak train -- and security to protect members of Congress, as well as facility and speaker fees. When Preston asked the spokesperson for the Democratic Caucus for the total taxpayer expense, he was told that no one had that answer. Democratic Caucus spokeswoman Emily Barocas said they don’t have to report the costs until April...

I have the answer -- TOO MUCH.

[EdReform]

Excellent documentation bump!

[justiceseeker93]

Kingsmill was chosen because it could accommodate a large group as the Democrats set their legislative agenda.

Isn't that the kind of bisiness that's supposed to be done in Washington? Maybe they could use the House chamber itself for such a purpose when they aren't in formal session and tell Republicans to keep out during those hours. If that wouldn't work, I'm sure they could could find an auditorium seating about 250 in the Capitol or within a short distance.

Plus, what about the timing of this retreat so early in the session? Shouldn't they have met to set their agenda before the session started Jan. 6 or thereabouts?

[SunkenCiv]

How about they just pay their own damned bills? :’)

[justiceseeker93]

How about they just pay their own damned bills?

Yes, like the back taxes they owe!!!

[SunkenCiv]

In fact, this topic should be, “Your Taxes MUST Be Paying for Democratic Retreat — Because Democrats Don’t PAY Taxes”.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2180014/posts