Milwaukee Looks To Bill Dubya & Kerry Campaigns

Good.

 

I don't have a problem with this.

 

Me, either.

 

More cities should do this, even if only to make a statement. Can't imagine how much came out of Ohio taxpayer pockets, what with Kerry and Bush visiting every other day.

 

Does Milwaukee bill rock musicians when they patrol concerts? Do they bill parade organizers when it rolls thru town? If they do, then fine. But, I suspect they don't. And, why are they waiting until after the election? When the candidates come thru town, it gives a boost to the local economies in terms of money (hotels, restaurants, etc). Milwaukee has just guaranteed that they'll never get another presidential visit during election season. Of course, that may have been their goal.

 

Yes.

 

Entertainers (including pro athletes) pay city taxes when they perform in a given city on a given night -- even if it's just for one night. The venue pays for property taxes and usage fees and occupancy permits. Attendees pay taxes on their tickets.

Politicians use public parks and give away their tickets. It's not the same.

 

Can't imagine how much extra revenues they generated from the visits either. Consider the number of media and political people that spent a fortune in Ohio.

 

The political parties pay taxes and fees on their use of the public parks. They do not get a free ride.

 

Yeah, but most of these visits were quickies, not even one night stands. Reporters and political hangers-on aren't staying in hotels and piling up bar tabs. I'm sure they spent some non-insignificant amount of money, but I'm not sure if that's enough to offset the cost of security that went beyond what the campaigns paid for, plus the economic cost of closing roads and parts of airport tarmacs.