Local Government TV

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

How Much Did NorCo Exec's "Junket" to Ann Arbor Cost the Taxpayer?

Last week, I told you that NorCo Exec Lamont McClure would miss the September 18-19 meetings of Northampton County Council because he was attending a conference of Keep Our Republic, a bipartisan nonprofit focused on threats to our election system. It is based on what should be three noncontroversial principles: (1) Let every eligible voter vote; (2) Let every vote be counted; and (3) let the electoral count stand. But McClure's trip came on the heels of Council member Ken Kraft's complaints about a week-long trip to Tampa, taken by Council President Lori Vargo Heffner. She was there for the annual convention of the National Association of Counties. Her voyage cost NorCo taxpayers about $3,100. So how much did McClure's "junket" to Ann Arbor cost?

According to McClure, $140. I told you that, though he's a Democrat, he's a cheap bastard. 

Did he hitchhike? Or borrow one of my bikes and sleep in a hammock? No. Keep Our Republic picked up the tab. McClure had to pay to park at Newark airport. 

McClure likes to take pictures of squirrels and rocks so I'm sure he had a blast. 

13 comments:

  1. Cheap bastard when it's something he doesn't want. Otherwise, he will spend like a drunken sailor. Stop perpetuating the myth.

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  2. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/09/20/election-disinformation-voter-fraud-ballots/75298884007/

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  3. Lamont can afford it. I'm surprised he showed up for anything, given his well-documented record as a councilman of taking his pay and not actually showing up for meetings - as told on this blog.

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  4. I expect people in leadership to think outside the box and understand new technology and best practice other municipalities and counties are using. This notion that you think within a jurisdictional border is a reason why some career staff think that people still live in Tee Pees. These costs are normal for a business trip to a conference.

    A better story would be how much bonuses have cost taxpayers for simply showing up to work. What about the salaries of police ready to retire that jump $65K plus in there last years to inflate their pensions. While I don't begrudge a person of a fair salary, I do think some overtime practices do have long term effect on taxpayers.

    These conferences you question often bring back value saving ideas and new technology that eventually saves taxpayers money. Oh, maybe there is a little enjoyment going out to dinner, but rest assured it pails in comparison to those that get bonuses simply for showing up to work or game their pensions while the rest of us will have to work until were 75 under Project 2025.

    Airfare $800, 5 nights in a hotel $700, per diem $300 transportation $350. Conference Registration $600 seems reasonable for a 5 day conference. I suppose one could camp out in a Tee Pee.

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    1. I can't decipher if these accusations about police pensions are anti police or anti union rhetoric, but I'll take the bait. Do you know why these officers hammer overtime, because no one wants to be a cop! Departments across the country are short handed. As senior officers they get the pick of the litter for jobs & do WORK their buts off at the end to bolster their pension so that they can pay for post retirement healthcare! Of course, I know "no one but me should be paid, every government worker is a leech, stop wasting taxpayer money" & yet society demands more & more from government services including the police.

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    2. You should see the state prison right now. You think you’re going home at the end of the shift, then they mandate you to stay and do a double. Forced overtime. What if you have kids?

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  5. Why did they pick up the tab? Who else did they pick up the tab for? Would this be considered a gift that is against ethics in the county to accept?

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    1. 8:06, This would not be a violation of NorCo's ethics ordinance but must be reported on McClure's annual ethics statement.

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  6. Bipartisan my ass. Any republican involved is a RINO to get a paycheck and be on a board. 93% of their money comes from foundations. What foundations? One of them is the Packard foundation. A far left climate activist group and Population and Reproductive Health issues based out of California. A Clinton advisor founded Keep our republic. Hard pass Bernie and below from their website

    Keep our republic was founded by Mark Medish, a former Clinton White House advisor, and Joel McCleary, a former Carter administration official. Both have consulted for many years on domestic and international homeland security issues.

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  7. https://stateline.org/2024/09/20/battleground-state-election-officials-lay-out-plans-concerns-heading-toward-election-day/

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  8. “Keep Our Republic picked up the tab.”

    So then the question is what is Keep Our Republic buying? I think we know the answer.

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    1. I’m wondering if you might be brain damaged ?

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  9. Another example of what politicians are doing to the people.

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