it's only 100,000 a year, and most of it is transportation and paying speakers. Not exactly lighting cigars with Clevelands (new window)

But hey, nice try anyway...

This pisses me off. Why in the hell can't they use an onsite conference room and teleconference phones?

eddyatwork: This pisses me off. Why in the hell can't they use an onsite conference room and teleconference phones?

Oddly enough, those are also paid with tax payer money.

The Onanist: Oddly enough, those are also paid with tax payer money.

Yes but they are needed to do the job. Visiting a resort is not needed.

The Onanist: eddyatwork: This pisses me off. Why in the hell can't they use an onsite conference room and teleconference phones?

Oddly enough, those are also paid with tax payer money.

Recycled cans and donated pieces of string, then.

Democratic leadership sources were reluctant to talk about any aspect of the trip, but they defended it as an important planning session for the entire country.

See? This is different. It's for the greater good.

eddyatwork: Yes but they are needed to do the job. Visiting a resort is not needed.

And yet, the Republican leadership doesn't disclose how they spend THEIR taxpayer money.

/Agreed that this doesn't really look very good for either party.

And this is where the GOP is having THEIR retreat.(^)

I wonder how much of our tax $$ THEY are spending?

The Onanist: And this is where the GOP is having THEIR retreat.(^)

I wonder how much of our tax $$ THEY are spending?

I don't know. Why don't you find out and we can chastise them, too, if they are using taxpayer money.

Nabb1: The Onanist: And this is where the GOP is having THEIR retreat.(^)

I wonder how much of our tax $$ THEY are spending?

I don't know. Why don't you find out and we can chastise them, too, if they are using taxpayer money.

As Media Matters previously noted, pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, the Republican Steering Committee received $943,000, the Republican Conference, $1,631,000, and the Republican Policy Committee, $325,000 -- for a total of $2,899,000 for fiscal year 2008. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and the Democratic Caucus also received a total of $2,899,000, with $1,295,000 going to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and $1,604,000 going to the Democratic Caucus. (No appropriations bill for legislative branch operations has been passed for fiscal year 2009; the legislative branch is being funded pursuant to a continuing resolution until March 3, 2009.) (new window)

Ughh... this shiat has got to stop. Today.


Democrats or Republicans- off with their heads.

mofroe: Nabb1: The Onanist: And this is where the GOP is having THEIR retreat.(^)

I wonder how much of our tax $$ THEY are spending?

I don't know. Why don't you find out and we can chastise them, too, if they are using taxpayer money.

As Media Matters previously noted, pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, the Republican Steering Committee received $943,000, the Republican Conference, $1,631,000, and the Republican Policy Committee, $325,000 -- for a total of $2,899,000 for fiscal year 2008. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and the Democratic Caucus also received a total of $2,899,000, with $1,295,000 going to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and $1,604,000 going to the Democratic Caucus. (No appropriations bill for legislative branch operations has been passed for fiscal year 2009; the legislative branch is being funded pursuant to a continuing resolution until March 3, 2009.) (new window)

Well, there you go. I guess the party coffers just can't part with any money to pay for these junkets. Shame all around to those hypocrites.

Can we get a government subsidy for pitchforks and torches?

I'm as economically conservative as they come, but $100,000 a year? Seriously? The phrase "piss in the ocean" isn't even adequate to describe that compared to the oodles of money the government wastes.

PenguinTheRed: I'm as economically conservative as they come, but $100,000 a year? Seriously? The phrase "piss in the ocean" isn't even adequate to describe that compared to the oodles of money the government wastes.

I consulted to DoD Finance (DFAS) for 3 years working on their financial apps. I can emphatically say THIS!

The Onanist: And this is where the GOP is having THEIR retreat.(^)

I wonder how much of our tax $$ THEY are spending?

Not as much, since the Republicans don't mind using lobbyist money for it.

Many respectable physicists said that they weren't going to stand for this - partly because it was a debasement of science, but mostly because they didn't get invited to those sort of parties.

haemaker: Many respectable physicists said that they weren't going to stand for this - partly because it was a debasement of science, but mostly because they didn't get invited to those sort of parties.

Bless you for being a hoopy frood.

Please list for me all the money both republicans and democrats waste on this type of thing, then I can get pissed off.

I strongly suspect the very people who complain about this "waste" invariably also demand the military's budget be increased above and beyond inflation's rise.

Let the Democrats eat their cake while the Republicans storm the castle.

Why would you bring a box lunch if you were staying at home?

Before the election: Change, different, kick out the repubs.
After elections: Bu...but...the republicans do it!

Stretching troll is stretching.

The Onanist: And this is where the GOP is having THEIR retreat.(^)

I wonder how much of our tax $$ THEY are spending?

Well that makes it OK!

let corporations and lobbyist pay for it all

like the republicans do!!!!

Well that's it. I'm convinced.

Let's impeach Obama.

Everyone send me $20 and I'll get the ball rolling.

This is going to be BIG.

Yay! Another pissing contest! This will help.

Spanky_McFarksalot: Before the election: Change, different, kick out the repubs.


Eh. Don't get me wrong, I don't like it but this is hardly scandalous waste. FTFA: Individual lawmakers pay for most of the expenses related to retreat lodging through their campaign committees, but the Democratic Caucus subsidizes some of the costs for what aides consider "official business"

Pennsylvania has something that could be described as "a lavish retreat"?

Yeah, I heard about this today. Maybe they should have thought about that first.

Then, this is the DEMOCRATIC retreat weekend. Maybe it's paid for by the DNC, which is funded by donations and such.

I honestly don't know.

Spanky_McFarksalot: Before the election: Change, different, kick out the repubs.
After elections: Bu...but...the republicans do it!

Don't blame me, I voted for the guy who's entire cabinet seems dedicated to not funding these activities.

/ducks

Falcc:
Don't blame me, I voted for the guy who's entire cabinet seems dedicated to not funding these activities.


Do you mean RON PAUL?

Dancin_In_Anson: The Onanist: And this is where the GOP is having THEIR retreat.(^)

I wonder how much of our tax $$ THEY are spending?

Well that makes it OK!

but, but, but Clinton!

/oh wait, it doesn't count when YOU make that argument

Kinda funny how the Dems spent 8 years trashing Bush over corporate welfare (rightly so). From what I can tell the Dem's economic plan is a continuation of the Bush economic plan with a bunch of pork thrown in for good measure

/Change in speed not direction.

Unlike Michael Phelps, [lawmakers] are indeed role models.

Kids are always saying "when I grow up I want to be just like Christopher Dodd."

Fjornir: Falcc:
Don't blame me, I voted for the guy who's entire cabinet seems dedicated to not funding these activities.


Do you mean RON PAUL?

Ron Paul isn't in the constitution by-gum it!

whidbey: Well that's it. I'm convinced.

Let's impeach Obama.

Everyone send me $20 and I'll get the ball rolling.

This is going to be BIG.

I started looking into good impeach url's back in September. They're all taken. Right now, for some odd reason, they all re-direct to Google. As if they knew what was going to happen, bought 'em, and decided to drive traffic to themselves for the ad revenue.

But give me your Paypal account number and password, and I'll be glad to help you out.

So because the Democrats criticized AIG for spending $440,000 on a meeting, they can't spend $100,000 on a meeting?

Falcc: Ron Paul isn't in the constitution by-gum it!

Yes he is. Look:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

well as long as they kept the republicans out, i guess it's ok

$500,000 in taxpayer money over the past five years for its annual retreats at resorts in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

$50,000 per retreat / 255 reps = $196 per rep.

Wow, I can't believe that they spent $196 per rep for 3 days. That's umm... a really good deal. Where else can you get a 3 day stay for $196 - besides the Dollar Inn?

FTFA: The House Democratic Caucus spent more than $500,000 in taxpayer money over the past five years for its annual retreats at resorts in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Individual lawmakers pay for most of the expenses related to retreat lodging through their campaign committees, but the Democratic Caucus subsidizes some of the costs for what aides consider "official business" - to the tune of nearly $100,000 each year, according to a Democratic aide involved in retreat planning.

For instance, the caucus picks up the hefty transportation tab, as well as the thousands of dollars in expenses each year for guest speakers, food and entertainment, according to financial disbursement records.

The topic is particularly sensitive this year after several Democratic lawmakers slammed American International Group (AIG) executives for spending more than $440,000 at a company retreat in Monarch Beach, Calif., just days after the federal government bailed the company out with $85 billion in taxpayer funds.

No, it's not okay to spend money at huge resorts when a Motel 8 will do. That's farked up, and needs to stop.

But it looks like the Democratic Caucus spent the same amount of money in five years as AIG spent for a single event. It appears they spent the majority of the money on legitimate expenses -- travel, food, speakers, etc. Also, from the article, it appears that individual lawmakers do not get a free ride, but are responsible for at least some of the bill. I wonder, do the bigwigs at AIG have to shell out anything for their retreat?

Yes, the Democratic Caucus probably did not need to spend that much, but I don't think a comparison to AIG's FAIL is very appropriate.

Rapmaster2000: $50,000 per retreat / 255 reps = $196 per rep.

Wow, I can't believe that they spent $196 per rep for 3 days. That's umm... a really good deal. Where else can you get a 3 day stay for $196 - besides the Dollar Inn?

Mathtastic failure!

Rapmaster2000: $500,000 in taxpayer money over the past five years for its annual retreats at resorts in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

$50,000 per retreat / 255 reps = $196 per rep.

Wow, I can't believe that they spent $196 per rep for 3 days. That's umm... a really good deal. Where else can you get a 3 day stay for $196 - besides the Dollar Inn?

I got a three night stay for $1.96 at your moms house.

Rapmaster2000: $500,000 in taxpayer money over the past five years for its annual retreats at resorts in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

$50,000 per retreat / 255 reps = $196 per rep.

Wow, I can't believe that they spent $196 per rep for 3 days. That's umm... a really good deal. Where else can you get a 3 day stay for $196 - besides the Dollar Inn?

I read that as 2 retreats per year. May it's only 1 per year, in which case it was $388 per rep for 3 days. That's about $150 cheaper than the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation - the only resort I've been to that could be described as lavish.

The Onanist: eddyatwork: Yes but they are needed to do the job. Visiting a resort is not needed.

And yet, the Republican leadership doesn't disclose how they spend THEIR taxpayer money.

/Agreed that this doesn't really look very good for either party.

See, now I'm exactly the opposite. I think this is fine for both parties; what's bad is whining about all these conferences. Where the hell is Harry Reid on this? Who the hell does he think sits at a $100 blackjack table keeping the lights on in Vegas? The Comicon folks are sleeping six to a room at the Imperial Palace and sitting at a $5 table. That ain't gonna fill Citycenter. Where are the Congresspeople from Miami and Palm Springs? Hell, where are the Congresspeople from Ft. Worth and Minneapolis and Denver and the other airline hubs?

Fjornir: Rapmaster2000: $50,000 per retreat / 255 reps = $196 per rep.

Wow, I can't believe that they spent $196 per rep for 3 days. That's umm... a really good deal. Where else can you get a 3 day stay for $196 - besides the Dollar Inn?

Mathtastic failure!

Any failure would be in assumptions and not the math. What are your assumptions?

Jesus built my hybrid: Rapmaster2000: $500,000 in taxpayer money over the past five years for its annual retreats at resorts in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

$50,000 per retreat / 255 reps = $196 per rep.

Wow, I can't believe that they spent $196 per rep for 3 days. That's umm... a really good deal. Where else can you get a 3 day stay for $196 - besides the Dollar Inn?

I got a three night stay for $1.96 at your moms house.

Ha ha - you've got herpes!

Rapmaster2000: Unlike Michael Phelps, [lawmakers] are indeed role models.

Kids are always saying "when I grow up I want to be just like Christopher Dodd."

Who?

Fjornir: Falcc: Ron Paul isn't in the constitution by-gum it!

Yes he is. Look:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

God bless America, indeed.

/this is fun