How 'bout some Dom Perignon with that pork?

The following are two stories to highlight a commonly-known reality; people are willing to spend big when somebody else is paying the check. When that occurs on the company credit card, it is an issue between the executive, the company comptroller and the employee. When it happens with your tax dollars; hmmm, well, everyone screams about it - and nothing gets done!

There are hundreds of stories like the two below; they can be found regularly in newspapers across the state. Stories highlighting the unjustifiable spending of taxpayer dollars by public officials who love living large; meanwhile Democrats are demanding more of your money through tax increases to fund even more largesse. Huh? How about managing the money already in the bank with some integrity before confiscating more or ours!

Never forget; when the government spends money somebody else is always paying the check.






Florez questions First 5 spending
By SHELLIE BRANCO, Bakersfield Californian

Can one man eat $400 worth of food in three and a half days?

How about when his lunches and breakfasts are already provided?

Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, is once again grilling First 5 Kern on its spending habits. The commission, which uses state tobacco-tax money for programs to help children through age 5, approved on Feb. 1 a plan to bring in a consultant for a county training session on curbing prenatal alcohol and drug use.

...The Kern commission has been criticized in the past for spending millions of dollars on consultants and out-of-town travel and meals, and added on "cost-of-living" salary boosts.

First 5 Kern plans to fly, lodge and feed a Chicago consultant and his assistant at a price tag of over $26,000 for a few days.

Read the full story here.

Schools chief's credit conflict
Some commissioners call Ackerman's charges excessive
by Heather Knight, San Francisco Chronicle

Outgoing San Francisco schools chief Arlene Ackerman racked up $45,625 in credit card charges in 2005 -- mostly in meals, airplane tickets and hotels -- which have been reimbursed by the San Francisco Unified School District at taxpayer expense.

Ackerman, a member of many national education organizations, took 32 work-related trips around the country last year, often staying in luxury hotels and eating at high-priced restaurants.

While in San Francisco, she paid for scores of working lunches and dinners -- frequently at such well-known restaurants as Jardiniere, Hayes Street Grill, Palomino and Morton's.

...Ackerman was blunt on Wednesday: "I have nothing to be ashamed of. People can nitpick if they want to, but I didn't do anything I think was wrong."

Read the full story here.

Oaff: On the Arlene Ackerman story; three quick observations:

1. She spent about $10,000 more on travel and food than I earned in a year as a teacher.
2. Her arrogance, when her spending is called into question, is typical.
3. In the headline, Some commissioners call Ackerman's charges excessive - SOME? That's incredible! How could there not be universal agreement that a school superintendent does not need to eat at Mortons on the school district dime? How about a reasonable agreement that school district money should never be spent in a restaurant where they don't print the prices on the menu? Seem reasonable? Hmmmm?