Mayor says Democrats responsible for convention overruns

[wdlove]

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Mayor Thomas M. Menino said yesterday he will make sure that city taxpayers don't have to cover cost overruns at the Democratic National Convention, saying that he believes decisions made by the national Democratic Party are responsible for the fact that construction and production costs have ballooned.

Menino said the convention show is being designed by the Democratic National Committee and Senator John F. Kerry's campaign, not the local host committee the mayor leads. Since their decisions for more expensive staging and production are adding to the convention's budget, he said an estimated $5 million in additional costs should be paid with funds raised by Kerry and the DNC.

"It's their obligation," Menino told reporters at a City Hall news conference. "It's an issue for the Democratic National Committee. It's on their dime, not the city's dime, and they have to deal with those issues of the overruns in the convention costs . . . It's not the City of Boston, that's for sure."

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/conventions/articles/2004/

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[mactastic]

Does Bush foot the bill when he flies into various cities, or do the cities pick up the expense of extra cops, security sweeps, etc.? Just something to ponder while y'all are fuming over Kerry's cost overruns.

Not saying I like it either, but don't throw these stones at Kerry alone...

[Chip NoVaMac]

Does Bush foot the bill when he flies into various cities, or do the cities pick up the expense of extra cops, security sweeps, etc.? Just something to ponder while y'all are fuming over Kerry's cost overruns.

Not saying I like it either, but don't throw these stones at Kerry alone...

To be honest the mayor is talking about "production" costs, not security. Maybe the mayor in his eagerness to get the convention never thought about such a thing as a contract.

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[mactastic]

Fuming? I was just commenting. Maybe this would work... <calm voice>It will be an interesting test of Kerry's character to see how he handles the overruns.</calm voice>

Whatever you want to call it... And AFAIK Bush's character has been tested time and again on this matter and he has dropped the ball. He goes all over the country (not to mention the world... well on those rare occasions when he leaves the USA :D ) and expects cities already strapped with unfunded Homeland Security duties every time the warning changes color to foot the bill for the event. So sure, Kerry's character may be tested, but just remember, Bush failed that test long ago.

Because I think it will be and interesting test. Kerry could potentially piss off Boston voters with this one. Or he could show some character like Bush did when he hosted the Clintons at the white house. It will just be interesting to watch.... (So in other words I am saying that this is an issue, or something we shouldn't ignore. Unless you are worried your man Kerry will drop the ball here.)

Bush showed character when Clinton was at the WH? To me it looked like he could hardly stand to be in the same room with such 'pure evil' as Billary.

I'm suprised you let 'your man Bush' get away with the same things you want to calmly criticize Kerry for. :eek:

[skunk]

I'm suprised you let 'your man Bush' get away with the same things you want to calmly criticize Kerry for. :eek:
I'm surprised you're surprised...

[Desertrat]

"He goes all over the country (not to mention the world... well on those rare occasions when he leaves the USA ) and expects cities already strapped with unfunded Homeland Security duties every time the warning changes color to foot the bill for the event."

mac, I'm sure you don't really mean this as a focus on Bush, do you? Or, with Pres. Kerry, do you expect him to never leave the White House in order that already-strapped cities can save money? Kerry would never campaign in 2006 or 2008 outside of White House TV cameras? No ribbon cuttings?

:D, 'Rat

[mactastic]

Nope 'Rat. I'm saying this is a non-issue.

[zimv20]

<calm voice>It will be an interesting test of Kerry's character to see how he handles the overruns.</calm voice>

i'm not sure what this has to do w/ kerry. the convention is the work of the DNC; the candidates of either party don't have much, if any, control over their respective ?NCs.

(a little unix pattern matching for ya! :-)

[Neserk]

I'm surprised you're surprised...

haha! :D

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[skunk]

I think it is fair to say that Kerry supporters give him the benefit of the doubt (Or "let ... get away with" in your words) just like Bush supporters give him the benefit of the doubt.
Aren't we jumping the gun here? Has this even been decided?

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