From the Jackson Clarion-Ledger:
A Democratic leader said today he will pay for his trip next week to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver instead of asking Mississippi taxpayers to pick up the tab.
State Rep. Tyrone Ellis issued his statement after Mississippi Republicans sent a news release to media outlets blasting the House of Representatives for approving the expense.
Ellis, a Democrat from Starkville who serves as House Majority Leader, said he will reimburse the state. His statement does not say how much the trip costs. Some estimate it costs thousands of dollars to attend the four-day event.
To my knowledge, no one in Illinois has tried a stunt like this one. Or no one has been caught.
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5 comments:
What did he do?
Book plane and hotel on a state credit card?
Hey Cal..
From another paper:
According to records found online, Ellis apparently had been paid in advance $1,760 for the trip to next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver. But after being criticized in a news release by the state Republican Party and by Republican members of the House in Internet blogs, Ellis said he will reimburse the state.
I don't condone using taxpayer monies for attending a partisan event (a civic or truly educational event is another story), but at least Dems want to go to their convention.
Present company notwithstanding, Repubs keep complaining that their's is too far from DC and isn't going to be worth the trip.
I'm not complaing. But St. Paul is just a six hours drive from Morton Grove. I'll ask delegates what they think, but I think they'll be pleasantly surprised. The Twin Cities has a lot to offer, despite the relatively modest size of the metro area.
I've never been to Denver, but outside of places like Rocky Mountain National Park, I believe there is more to do and see in the Twin Cities.
That's why I wrote, "Present company notwithstanding..."
You're not an elected Republican official. They're the ones griping.
And as far as things to do, I'd imagine both urban areas have a good amount of festive offerings; though it does appear more thought is being given to convention-specific festivities in Denver like the Dem bloggers' "Big Tent" gathering place, etc.
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