scant evidence of fiscal restraint.
OK
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From the Congressional Record:
Senator McCain on the GAO Report
On Sept. 19, 2000, Sen. McCain, speaking in opposition to the Conference Report on the 2001 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill advised the Senate of details from the GAO’s report. As recorded in the Congressional Record, Sen. McCain stated,
“The GAO now determines that $1.3 billion—and some of those I will read: $974,000 for the Utah State Olympic Public Safety Command; $5 million for the Utah Communications Agency Network; $3 million to Olympic Regional Development Authority, upgrades at Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex; $2.5 million, Salt Lake City Olympics bus facilities; $2.5 million, Salt Lake City Olympics regional park-and-ride lots; $500,000, Salt Lake City Olympics transit bus loan, and on and on; $925,000 to allow the Utah State Olympic Public Safety Command to continue to develop and support a public safety program for the 2002 Winter Olympics; $1 million for the 2002 Winter Olympics security training; $2.2 million for the Charleston Water Conservancy District, UT, to meet sewer infrastructure needs associated with the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. What the Olympic games supposedly hosted and funded by Salt Lake City, which began in corruption and bribery, has now turned into is an incredible pork-barrel project for Salt Lake City and its environs.” — Sen. John McCain in the United States Senate, Sept. 19, 2000 - [Page S8731-S8748 - Congressional Record.]
I cannot abide Romney, but in all fairness, he was not an elected official from Utah during the Olympics, nor has he been at any other time. Blame all the Olympic pork barrel spending (and there was plenty) on Hatch and Bennett and our Congressmen. Did Romney send lobbyists? Undoubtedly. It was his job as head of the Olympics to try and get funds wherever he could. But, they could have said “no” and didn’t. That’s their failure. One of the reasons I can’t wait to help dump Hatch out of office like we did Bennett and Cannon.
As for him touting the Olympics as some huge financial success for Salt Lake City. It was for those who were invested in certain industries and areas. For the average joe on the streets, it was just a pain in the behind. We certainly didn’t see our taxes and services change positively because of it. And they’re still patting themselves on the back. Yesterday, they had a 10 year anniversary “let’s light the torch one more time” ceremony.