|
I'm baffled by something Christie said yesterday, that if he's elected, it would be okay if his top people didn't always adhere to the austerity required by Corzine, restricting state workers to government rates on travel.
Christie's own expenditures as US Attorney regularly exceeded - often by a heap - rates allowed almost anybody else who works for state or federal government. That's how he'd play it as Governor? I mean, I can believe he'd spend like that if history's any indication. I just can't believe he'd say it out loud. Is he tired?
You'd think he'd avoid drawing attention to his unusual relationship with Michele Brown, put in charge (before she resigned) of FOIA requests to uncover Christie's travel documents, who turns out to be Christie's frequent travel companion in some very swanky hotels. We now know he & Brown spent your money on:
a 3-night 2007 trip to Chicago, Indianapolis & Boston at $4,500 for hotel rooms?
a 2-night 2008 Vegas trip costing you $2,600?
a 4-night 2008 London trip costing you $8,800?
Imagine the example he could set if he traveled Newark to AC on public transportation. NJTransit's website is frozen right now but they're listed: 973-275-5555. Round-trip Newark to AC: $31 bucks. You could do that 22.65 times for what Christie billed taxpayers to limo in style. Maybe one of those bus trips where they fork over free casino chips and a steak dinner? And his Orlando trip? AP points out there are 450 hotels in Orlando. He chose Ritz-Carlton, a luxury hotel.. Maybe a helpful state worker could point outhotels.com, where I clocked out after 12 pages of accommodations in-budget (300 hotels, plenty of pages left). Pool & breakfast, too.
Why is this guy - who campaigned on cutting government waste, touting integrity - embracing his profligate spending of public dollars for his own convenience and comfort? Is he just winding down? Getting demoralized as the sun shines for Corzine and Daggett, at his expense? Or did somebody slip him some truth serum? Because if it's that, we've got some more questions.
|
