DNC host's tax-free gas evaporates
Angry reaction brings a halt to use of city pumps
Daniel J. Chaconand Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News
Published July 22, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
Photo by Darin Mcgregor / The Rocky
Hybrid vehicles, some bearing tags for the Democratic National Convention, sit in a storage lot at Denver International Airport.
Photo by Matthew Staver/Humana
Mayor John Hickenlooper says RNC hosts have same arrangement.
Photo by City and County of Denver
Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz wants the private group to pay its share in fuel taxes.
The committee hosting the Democratic National Convention has used the city's gas pumps to fill up and apparently avoided paying state and federal fuel taxes.
The practice, which began four months ago, may have ended hours after its disclosure. An aide to Mayor John Hickenlooper released a statement Tuesday evening saying that Denver 2008 Host Committee members would pay market prices for fuel and would also be liable for all applicable taxes.
However, Public Works spokeswoman Christine Downs told City Council members just hours before that host committee members were fueling up at the city pumps. The city does not pay taxes on the fuel for its fleet, and Downs said the host committee would not either.
The disclosure brought immediate scrutiny. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said the practice "would seem" to be illegal and referred the matter to the state Department of Revenue.
Nonprofits, such as the host committee, are subject to state and federal gasoline taxes, according to the Department of Revenue.
The issue arose during the regular weekly meeting of Hickenlooper and City Council members. Downs requested authorization for a contract so the Public Works Department could be reimbursed by the host committee for use of "fueling facilities, fuel and car washes."
Downs said the contract with the host committee started in March and that $9,700 in fuel and services had been purchased from the city so far. But the committee has yet to be billed. The city anticipates $466,125 in total revenues from the contract, Downs said.
City Councilman Charlie Brown raised the question of whether the host committee would be paying fuel taxes, and Downs said it wouldn't.
"There's something there that just doesn't seem right to me because, in a sense, you're saying then that the officials who pass the laws are not willing to live by them," said Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz.
Hickenlooper said the practice isn't unique to Denver.
"I do know for a fact that they're doing the same exact thing in Minneapolis," Hickenlooper said, referring to the city that along with St. Paul is hosting the Republican National Convention.
But Teresa McFarland, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-St. Paul host committee, said its members are getting their gas at public pumps.
"We're not getting a tax break on fuel," she said. "That's not the setup at this end."
In Colorado, consumers pay 40.4 cents per gallon in state and federal fuel taxes.
"We're a nonpartisan, nonprofit committee, but certainly, if the city feels that taxes are applicable, we will pay those, too," said Chris Lopez, spokesman for the host committee. "So we would pay all applicable taxes on any of the fuel."
The host committee, which is responsible for raising money to put on the convention, is using the city's pumps "for safety and security reasons," Lopez said.
"We know the gas is not tainted," he said. "We use it as a safety and security measure."
Hickenlooper said GM is "loaning" the host committee vehicles and he expects a large number to be hybrids. It wasn't clear Tuesday whether host committee members are using those loaners or their personal vehicles.
Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, said the city's arrangement with the DNC host committee was "appalling."
"I'm hoping this is not the first of many stories about how Colorado taxpayers are apparently subsidizing the Democratic convention," Wadhams said.
After the meeting, Faatz said it was wrong for the DNC host committee to get a tax break.
"I am just troubled by not having the payment of taxes for what I consider to be a privately funded party, and that's what the host committee is: it's a private organization," she said.
"If you've got a 14-gallon tank, on the average, that's about $5.66 that they don't have to pay for fill up," Brown said.
Brown also questioned the need for car washes.
It also wasn't clear Tuesday whether the Department of Revenue will investigate.
"We can't talk about any individual taxpayer's circumstance," said department spokesman Mark Couch. "Tax-exempt organizations are not exempt from fuel taxes, so a nonprofit group is not exempt from fuel taxes. As to the individual circumstance involved here, we'd have to look into it and investigate to make any kind of determination."
Denis Berckefeldt, spokesman for Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher, said Hickenlooper's administration has been guilty in the past of doing business before a contract is executed.
"Is it unusual that it happens?" he asked. "No, because they do stuff like this. Do we like it? No."
In January 2006, Gallagher complained to Hickenlooper in a letter about the "ongoing problem related to work being performed on behalf of the city before a contract for that work has been fully executed and properly signed."
At that time, Gallagher wrote, an examination of 999 contracts found that in 790 cases - 79 percent - work began before the contracts were "fully executed."
"We would have a problem with this because they're clearly selling fuel to the host committee without a fully executed contract," Berckefeldt said. "We have a real serious issue at the auditor's office with the city doing business with anyone without a contract."
July 22, 2008
2:22 p.m.
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dilligaf writes:
Oh Tommyboy did you read the part about the RNC doing the same thing? What a one sided moron. LET THE CRYING CONTINUE!!!!!
July 22, 2008
2:34 p.m.
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my3pugs writes:
"Homeless to be hired as food tasters."
To prevent poisoning of delegates and more important people attending the DNC, homeless people will be hired to taste food before it is served to DNC Host and Organizing Committees and delegations from swing states. "It just wouldn't be feasible to hire enough tasters to pass on all the food for the entire convention," Hickenlooper said. Those from safely won or clearly lost states will have to brave the rigors of possibly poisoned food. When asked if it was fair to risk homeless people in this way, Hickenlooper said, "We expect there will be very few attempts at poisoning so in reality, this is a chance for the homeless to contribute in a meaningful way while getting some excellently colored balanced food as well." Besides, apparently the RNC is doing the same thing in St. Paul.
July 22, 2008
2:41 p.m.
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DeimosJB writes:
Nice. The end result is that the Colorado taxpayers are subsidizing fuel for the committee hosting the Democratic National Convention.
I have not seen any article or evidence that the RNC is doing the same thing, despite Hickenlooper's words. Does anyone have any information on this accusation, other than Hickenlooper-Hearsay?
July 22, 2008
2:45 p.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
I, also, cannot find any confirmation, or for that matter, any mention of taxes being waived in the Twin Cities for RNC personnel. hick strikes again! This is B$! So I've yet to hear who's going to make up the shortfall in funding the dnc. If this becomes a Colorado or Denver burden I believe that all involved need to be summarily fired/recalled/tarred & feathered.
Keep it up hick. You're looking more & more like wellington webb & his infamous cronyism. Or peni$es land deals. Which is it hick democracy and representing your constituents or the direction you're heading now. Perhaps it's time for the voters to decide for you???
July 22, 2008
3:01 p.m.
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DenverDan writes:
The bus thing, and now this. Oh big deal. If it was the GOP that was here, I would not here a thing from the baby girls on the right. It is only (4) days, not three weeks. This is very good for local economy.
July 22, 2008
3:03 p.m.
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BMat writes:
So we just read that fastrax is officially "Slow-Trax" now b/c the RTD fell short of tax revenue to fund expansion.
Now without a vote of the people Mayor Lickenpooper is giving away tax dollars to the DNC which is a de-facto tax INCREASE on those of us who still must pay.
If you increase our taxes Mr. Mayor you have to run it through a vote of the people. Read TABOR. It doesn't make it any better that you personally stand to elevate your own political standing w/in your own party as a result.
The worst of it is they'll be draining our mountain reservoirs with tax-free car washes to make sure the DNC has enough shiney, gas-s.u.c.king SUV's to clog up the downtown streets. Thanks a lot. I don't care what they're doing in Minneapolis.
GET YOUR HAND OUT OF MY POCKET AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.
July 22, 2008
3:04 p.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
Tommy - Agreed, neither side is to be trusted. And most of your post is, for me, unrefutable.
July 22, 2008
3:06 p.m.
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youngman writes:
I bet if you dug into it they are getting free hotel rooms in the city owned Hyatt Hotel...free city cars..free city telephones....and on and on.....
pretty sick...but next year we will have to raise taxes to pay for the loss it caused....
July 22, 2008
3:08 p.m.
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Michael writes:
This is wrong. If the GOP is also getting this "favor" in Minneapolis - then that is also wrong. Just another example of the elitism and "do as we say, not as we do" mentality of politics and politicians. This really bothers me in some gut way that tells me these people don't give a shi% about anything but their friggin' coronation party.
July 22, 2008
3:12 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
Only ROYALTY and DICTATORS fear their subjects so much that they need food tasters...
Our revolution probably isn't that far away...That might explain the POLICE STATE tactics we have seen in the last few months...
King George ( and BOTH the PARTIES follow his footsteps ) is afraid.
There is NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PARTIES AT THIS POINT....
When people look at the big picture...
July 22, 2008
3:12 p.m.
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temurlan writes:
I wish this story came out this morning. I can tell already that this post has got some legs on it.
Whether it's the DNC or the RNC, it's just plain wrong. I think both sides should be furious.
Who the heck do they (and you Hickenlooper) think they are????
July 22, 2008
3:15 p.m.
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DenverDan writes:
Republicans paying for the DNC, PRICLESS!!!!!
July 22, 2008
3:26 p.m.
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benzing writes:
This topic is a pretty narrow snapshot of what it means to host such a large event. If we Denver taxpayers have to concede a few hundred thousand dollars in lost gas tax revenue in order to host an event that will bring in millions of dollars for the local economy and other tax channels, then it's a good deal for those taxpayers, no? Granted, I don't have the math here to show the precise return on investment, but setting aside politcal differences, I think a little context for this story would go a long way toward understanding the situation.
July 22, 2008
3:36 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
Benzing, then YOU pay for all of it. WE DON'T WANT TO!!
It sound like you are a SHILL for Big Business, and the TAXPAYER is tired of listening to SHILLS
July 22, 2008
3:36 p.m.
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Buckwheat writes:
Boy..This whole Convention thing just keeps getting better doesn't it?...And you gotta know that there is more to come. LOL.
July 22, 2008
3:38 p.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
Michael - a couple of have searched and can find no mention of the rnc getting this same benefit. Do you know something different?
July 22, 2008
3:40 p.m.
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roger44 writes:
benzing, tell me how this helps the taxpayers. Only the ones serving the DNC benefits, and that's the businesses. The price of roads has gone up, and they are letting the DNC have a pass. Bulloney, not right.
July 22, 2008
3:43 p.m.
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O_TRAIN writes:
Benzing - the best deal for the taxpayers would be....the DNC pays the tax.
July 22, 2008
3:44 p.m.
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FCZ writes:
the officials who pass the laws are not willing to live by them
July 22, 2008
3:54 p.m.
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benzing writes:
Have you ever stayed in a hotel and looked at the bill? Frankly, the taxes are outrageous. Maybe 20% or something? Rental cars too. And every hotel in the city will be full. That's very good for tax payers. I don't imagine any of these visitors will be bringing their own food, either, so the restaurants will be packed, providing increased tax revenue to the city's coffers. If we have to cater to the DNC-site-location decision makers by sacrificing some tax income from them, then it may have some elements of corruption, but it's no different than trying to land any other big convention in town or trying to get a company to relocate to Denver. I am much more inclined to believe that this is a net positive than an abuse of power.
July 22, 2008
4:16 p.m.
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Darwin writes:
dilligaf, best that you REREAD the article as stated:
Teresa McFarland, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-St. Paul host committee, said they're getting their gas at the pump. "We're not getting a tax break on fuel," she said. "That's not the set-up at this end."
or would you rather not be bothered with the facts?
Way to short-change the citizens of Denver and Colorado. Are there some of you still think there is no difference between the "elite" and peons? Way to go His Honor Mayor Huckster sir. I'm sure that with a Democrat controlled state, you would have done the same for the Republican party, yeah right (nor should you).
July 22, 2008
4:20 p.m.
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Konyok writes:
dilligaf,
You need to read a little closer. The story quotes the Minneapolis Host Committe spokesperson (RNC) as buying gas commercially ("getting their gas at the pump").
Would knee-jerk reaction qualify as "one sided moron?"
July 22, 2008
4:30 p.m.
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BMat writes:
If the mayor fails to collect a tax that is due the city then the rest of us who do pay taxes will simply pay more.
The DNC is a multimillion dollar private company with a political axe to grind. Same as the RNC.
So the Mayor's out-of-town, fat-cat, millionaire, political bosses get a free ride (not to mention free car washes) and he sticks the hard-working Colorado tax payer with the bill.
Thanks for being a man of the people Mayor Lickenpooper. I hope the party realizes that you're willing to screw your own constiuents to advance the party's goals.
July 22, 2008
4:36 p.m.
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gekkobear writes:
"If we Denver taxpayers have to concede a few hundred thousand dollars in lost gas tax revenue in order to host an event that will bring in millions of dollars for the local economy and other tax channels, then it's a good deal for those taxpayers, no?"
Right, and the printers in DC printing the handbills to be sent to Denver are loving your outlook. Or maybe the printers printing the handouts in New York.
Printers in Denver were hoping for business that never happened, because the DNC kept doing business with their current contracts rather than getting local work whenever possible.
But hey, so Denver shells out some busk so NY and DC can get some extra business. That's good enough right?
Naah, I'm sure I made that up... demand links...
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnew...
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/...
Or maybe I didn't make that up myself. Maybe I had help from the Denver Post? That's a good scheme I've got there.
Well, I'm sure the DNC will provide those numbers for future planning...
"The Democratic National Convention Committee refused to disclose how many contracts have been awarded for the convention or what portion went to Colorado companies.
"That is not information we share with press," said Natalie Wyeth, spokeswoman for the DNCC. "
Hmm, if it's such good business for the cities, why are they keeping it secret?
In a global economy, you can't rely on getting what you thought you would get... but I guess you can still rely on giving more than you expected.
Maybe we can do this every couple of years, so we can make up the loss on volume.
July 22, 2008
4:36 p.m.
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BMat writes:
July 22, 2008
4:06 p.m.
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artstarzz writes:
Downs said the contract with the host committee started in March and that $9,700 had been expended so far. The city anticipates making $466,125 total from the contract, she said.
_________
By your own admission we've exchanged a bird in hand for two in the bush. We know already what the costs are to us but the benefit is as yet still hypothetical.
If a bull frog had wings you would "anticipate" that he wouldn't bump his a.s.s. when he hops. But that remains to be seen.
July 22, 2008
4:37 p.m.
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tlatexaspuma writes:
What hypocrites! I am a democrat and my own party does not want the gas tax holiday suggested by John McCain. But in Denver at the national convention, democrats don't like the gas tax holiday wanted by John McCain.
The party officials are so out of touch with voters, but yet they help us to continue to grow with their elitist and unethical attitudes.
http://www.justsaynodeal.com/
July 22, 2008
4:42 p.m.
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SteveC writes:
I guess only us commoners pay taxes, the royalty doesn't have to.
July 22, 2008
4:50 p.m.
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Firedewd writes:
From Wikipedia about the last DNC in Boston 2004
-- Loss of business
In addition to the events—such as a planned Tall Ships visit—cancelled by the city, widely announced rapid transit and road closures provoked thousands of area businesses (even outside the city) to shut down for the duration, and tourists who would normally have visited Boston at that time stayed away.[citation needed] Furthermore, the anticipated gain in business in the restaurant trades never materialized, as security and other considerations kept the delegates to restricted venues.[citation needed] The Boston Globe estimated the economic loss to the city inflicted by the convention to be in the tens of millions of dollars.[citation needed]
July 22, 2008
4:54 p.m.
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willicr writes:
If the Democrats are truly for the people then they should give the gas tax break to those who need it such as the struggling Coloradans who are paying the tax. (same for the Republicans).Those who can’t pay the tax (we all know they can). It is time for a major change. The richer get richer and we get poorer. Our environment, our education, and our economy have all fallen apart. It is not the political parties that have to live with it or in it. In fact they make money from it. Both parties are out to make money for themselves and could care less about any of us or our beliefs. I believe Rickylee is right it time for a revolution. We all are nothing more then tools that are used to keep the economy running just enough for the richest to benefit.
July 22, 2008
5:01 p.m.
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DarwinAkbar writes:
But you peasants just don't understand: because we are Democrats, gas gas taxes are for thee, but not for me. In fact, for thee, we, your Democrat superiors in the U.S. Congress, believe you are not paying enough for gas. Therefore, although we have been working hard to surpress the story, we are about to impose a ten-cent per gallon tax increase upon you:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/07/19...
We're sure you don't mind paying a little more. You can always cut back on fried foods, since our Greening Director says it's not good for you anyway.
July 22, 2008
5:04 p.m.
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benzing writes:
So, if in the course of the site selection competition, Hick had said that he would not authorize the gas tax concession in order to win the bid, and that some other city had won the DNC instead because the other city made a better offer, you think he would have received praise for this decision? Or do you think he would have been mocked from coast to coast?
July 22, 2008
5:17 p.m.
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BMat writes:
benzing writes:
So, if in the course of the site selection competition, Hick had said that he would not authorize the gas tax concession in order to win the bid, and that some other city had won the DNC instead because the other city made a better offer, you think he would have received praise for this decision? Or do you think he would have been mocked from coast to coast?
______________
Should not the mayor of the city of denver be more concerned with the good citizens of denver and less so with his "coast to coast" image?
You've confirmed my worst suspicions. He's made this move to curry favor in the national party at the expense of local citizens.
Why? because he's got his eyes on a bigger national job (read: coast to coast) and the citizens of this city are just a means to a larger end. It's disgusting.
Did I misread your post?
July 22, 2008
5:23 p.m.
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benzing writes:
Yes, I think you did. Sorry to be unclear. If he had not made incentives, then we would have lost this highly lucrative opportunity. That would have been poor management. By 'coast to coast' I mean to say that it would have been universally considered a bad idea, not that he's after a higher post.
July 22, 2008
5:37 p.m.
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GetReal writes:
Has anyone tallied up what the total cost of this quagmire will be for the taxpayers so far?
I hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling the property damage bill alone will dwarf any others, even the estimated 3 mill for moving to Invesco to accommodate The Boy King's ego.
Who needs fundraising when you can just stick it to the taxpayer, like Dems always do,
Right Hick?
July 22, 2008
5:38 p.m.
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BMat writes:
OK benzing, I hope you're right. I hope it's lucrative.
But we know already what the Mayor wants to concede and what it will cost. We don't yet know how or if the citizens of Denver will recieve some durable, long-term improvement to the quality of life here oweable to the DNC Convention.
I hope we get it. We've already paid for it. But I doubt it.
July 22, 2008
5:45 p.m.
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anya writes:
Mayor Hickenlooper: This is wrong. Please don't allow this.
July 22, 2008
6:01 p.m.
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benzing writes:
I hope it works out too, and I would rather win the bid and have the opportunity to manage the event well than not win the bid at all. We shall see how it turns out, but I think the outrage here is misplaced.
July 22, 2008
6:46 p.m.
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drkenne writes:
And the DNC is special because....? More disgusting abuse by the political machine. To make if fair, why doesn't the mayor institute a gas tax amnesty for all during the democratic coronation, oh I mean convention. This whole process is just a waste of money.
July 22, 2008
6:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
Typical Democrats. They tax everyone else, but use corrupt actions to avoid the taxes themselves. Crooks, one and all.
Any moron that defends such sleazy corruption is too stupid to know better.
July 22, 2008
6:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
"Where do I get my tickets to see Obama at envestco ?"
Call 1-800-DemocratCorruption to get your tickets to the fatcat scam event at Invesco.
July 22, 2008
7:02 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
I once watched a famous company sold out by a CEO who had POLITICAL anbitions; the behavior of John Hickenlooper ( and the PROSTITUTES that are supporting him ) is exactly like John Rollwagen's behavior was at Cray Research. Here is a glossed over puff piece of what happened. The former employees paint a different picture...
"In January 1993, President Clinton named John as his nominee for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce. In May, after resigning his position at Cray Research and serving several months in Washington D.C. as Deputy Secretary Designate, John concluded that he could make a greater contribution from the private sector and withdrew his name from nomination. "
http://www.smaby.com/quatris/john.html
He LOST, and screwed the company too...
I don't want the same thing happening to Denver...the people here don't deserve what happened to us...they deserve better...
That is where I learned about people with POLITICAL ambitions..
And the ambitions of Hickenlooper are pretty obvious...once you taste power., some people are permanently hooked...
July 22, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
johninlongmont writes:
typical politicians...democrat or republican - doesn't matter...they see themselves as "the entitled class"...most egregious in u.s. senators, but it permeates all the ranks
July 22, 2008
7:35 p.m.
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kali73 writes:
I am a Colorado and Denver taxpayer, where is my tax-free gas? No one (Democratic or Republican) cares about the taxpayer. Time to revolt - no wonder there are going to be so many protesters! Our democracy is going to hell in a hurry and no one in government cares!
July 22, 2008
7:40 p.m.
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BMat writes:
Our fair Mayor has committed tens of thousands of city tax dollars to rip out all the landscaping and the irrigation system going up to the privately owned Pepsi Center and to replace it with a brand new low water use drip system and all new xeriscape plants.
This in order to show off the water conservation effort of our city by using tax payer dollars to prove it. Even tho it's on private property and the main event will not even be staged there.
And in the mean time the Mayor's holding a tax-free car wash party for a week straight so the DNC can wash as many SUV's as they can line up and put through?
Could there be any other reason than promoting himself to his own party bosses? How does this help Denver?
Gimme back my money Mr. Mayor. I will still live here when you get that fancy job in DC. But I'm a reasonable man. If you can get Hillary to wash those SUV's in a bikini then to hell with tax revenue. I'm on board.
July 22, 2008
8:02 p.m.
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dehepcats writes:
More hypocrisy from the church of NObama.
July 22, 2008
8:14 p.m.
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VonDoog writes:
Funny, Democrats are soooo against oil. Against nuclear. Against wind and solar...NIMBY's.
Funny that when it comes to them getting the freebie dole from the spiggot, they jump to it.
They are not Liberal. They are SOCIALISTS.
Enjoy Losers!
July 22, 2008
8:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
j_t writes:
Some of you are missing the point. Whether the city makes a fortune or not and considering the Dem position on the energy crisis, they should lead by example. If you have to pay it some way then they have to pay it. If the mayor or the DNC will not listen to you then consider what they have done when you vote this fall. It is not that difficult. YOU have the power with your vote. YOU just have to make up your mind to use that power. YOU should not complain if YOU don't use that power.
July 22, 2008
8:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC7880 writes:
It is thanks to the DNC members that we are over $4.00 a gallon now. No drilling, no refineries, no nuclear plants.
NO TO A TAX BREAK FOR THE IDIOTS THAT GOT US IN THIS MESS!
July 22, 2008
8:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
LoFat writes:
Hey, all you phony libs! Go back and re-read the article! Teresa McFarland of the Minneapolis-St. Paul host comittee specifically states that the RNC "is not getting a tax break.". Hickenblooper told the lie that the RNC was getting the same break. Of course if you could actually read and understand what it said you would be smart and become Republicans anyway.
Orwell was right: "All animals are equal. Some are just more equal than others".
July 22, 2008
8:55 p.m.
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LoFat writes:
Now you have gone and upset me so that I embarassed myself with a minor diatribe. I apologize if I offended any of you truth-impaired socialists.
July 22, 2008
8:58 p.m.
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Libertarian_Thinker writes:
I find it rich that the Dims in congress are currently scheming to raise the federal gas tax yet they see no problem with exempting themselves from the Colorado tax. Hypocrite scum bags!
Can any one say 9% approval rating and falling!
July 22, 2008
9:18 p.m.
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BMat writes:
We won folks. 31 news reports that the DNC will pay their taxes. I assume the RMN will post shortly. Power to the people.
Now, about those 50,000 dirty hippie campers in City Park . . .?
July 22, 2008
9:24 p.m.
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Faxman writes:
This just in: Fox News Ch.31 @ 9 p.m. Due to public outcry [yey!] the DNC WILL NOT be using the City's gas pumps to fill up their vehicles.
July 22, 2008
9:45 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
We only won a battle, not the war..
I note that PLATE doesn't have a registration sticker.....
Does that mean the vehicles are exempt too?
We have a lot more slimy stuff to uncover...
July 22, 2008
9:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Faxman writes:
Yes, all Govt. vehicles are tax exempt. They're parasites and we're their hosts. Time to wake up and smell the corruption.
July 22, 2008
10:08 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
The DNC is not a government entity. Furthermore, the government plates are identified as such. These plates are not.
July 22, 2008
10:15 p.m.
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Jim_in_MT writes:
So.... when are all you weenies going to demostrate openly, in the streets of Denver and Minneapolis if necessary, and tar and feather these schmucks -- up to and including the "pretenders to the throne"? This nation wasn't founded by bloggers, and we didn't send bloggers to Boston Harbor, nor to Concord or Lexington, nor to the Philadelphia Convention, nor to New Orleans in 1812 (to fight the Brits yet again), nor to Gettysburg, nor to Mexico, nor to Germany (twice), nor to Japan, nor to Korea! Since socialists took over with that corrupt election in Chicago in 1960, we haven't had any leaders OR followers worthy of our respect.
July 22, 2008
10:18 p.m.
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Mike846 writes:
The posters thus far have made all my points, and probably better than I could have. Nice job, folks. Suffice it to say I haven't seen ANY publicity about ANY Colorado company getting ANY of the contracts to support the convention. I would think if this was such a great bonanza for the City, there would be articles all OVER the place. Trust me, when its all over, Hizzoner the Mayor will trot out his little red letters again and push for more taxes for "the parks" and "the kids" and "our future", and then the money will be siphoned off, as was the money from Amendment C, and used to pick up the tab for other things, including the millions lost by the City hosting this misbegotten love-fest who's only invitee's are the Democrat fat cats and fixers. I reiterate: BOTH parties should pay for their OWN shindigs. No money from the "host" city, no money from the Federal government (that's me and you, folks) and no special "arrangements". They are both private political parties; let them pay their OWN bills. Mike
July 22, 2008
10:24 p.m.
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bph writes:
Good luck trying to protest this at the convention
July 22, 2008
10:49 p.m.
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rj1967 writes:
For all the money and bullsh.. this city has gone thru for this 4 day convention, they could have put on 10 other 4 day conventions with no hoopla and millions of dollars in more revenue. Nooooo we gotta do all this bullsh.. to prove we're a world class city. (If I wanted to be in a world class city I'd move to New York)
July 22, 2008
10:49 p.m.
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Hickenblooper writes:
Hickenlooper is a damn liar.
Kudos to Jeanne Flaatz fo calling him on this!
July 22, 2008
11:08 p.m.
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MattGuyver_007 writes:
Does anyone else think it's funny that "Charlie Brown" brought this to our attention?
On another note... "We know the gas is not tainted," he said. "We use it as a safety and security measure." Who the hell does Lopez think he's fooling with that line of Bullsh*t?
July 22, 2008
11:16 p.m.
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xyzwtfxyz writes:
First, let's read the real story, not the one you thought you read. It says the "host" committee is able to purchase gasoline at the city's gas pumps. That doesn't include the DNC or the delegates. Second, the fact that the DNC says they are not purchasing this gas isn't a victory for anyone, since they were never allowed to do so. Third, those who believe that government vehicles that do not pay taxes on the fuels they use are costing them tax dollars need to step back and recall that those government vehicles and all their expenses are paid for with taxpayer money.
Mayor Hickenlooper is clearly overstepping his authority in selling fuel tax free to anyone who is not entitled to such purchases. The end result of doing so will ultimately result in the city's inability to purchase tax free fuel and/or in being liable for the taxes not collected on such fuels sold to ineligible users. The mayor can certainly allow such an action to happen, just as a retail business could stop collecting and remitting Denver sales taxes for a week if their management wanted to do so.
July 22, 2008
11:26 p.m.
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uniqorn51 writes:
Hick-loop is a typical Liberal--he makes breaking the law OK by saying that the Repubs are doing the same thing, even though it isn't so.
July 22, 2008
11:50 p.m.
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xyzwtfxyz writes:
Wow, I wanted to post my initial comments much earlier, but now it seems that the original article has suddenly changed and that we can now thank the State Attorney General, John Suthers, for setting Mayor Hickenlooper straight on this issue.
July 23, 2008
12:17 a.m.
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gwats writes:
Put them on RTD!
July 23, 2008
12:28 a.m.
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Chadley25 writes:
For all of you republicans who think you're somehow superior, let me just assure you -- you're not. Your party is just as corrupt and pathetic.
I'm a registered democrat and I'm as bothered by this as any republican.
The people who have suggested that there's REALLY very little difference between the two parties -- guess what? They're right. In theory, the two parties are quite different, but in practice, they're just the same. Dishonest and incompetent.
July 23, 2008
1:21 a.m.
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Burbmom writes:
It is interesting that there is no mention that Denver purchases gas at a reduced rate and the DNC profiting from that reduced rate!
Democrats if you see their lips move it is a lie!
They will promise the dumb people who vote for them the "good life" but they NEVER deliver!
Tommy is RIGHT..."This should serve as a reminder that the Democrats believe in ruling others lives, yet they are unwilling to obey the very laws they embrace." Reminds me of Communists!
July 23, 2008
1:36 a.m.
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Eliot_Spitzer writes:
"This should serve as a reminder that the Democrats believe in ruling others lives, yet they are unwilling to obey the very laws they embrace.
The socialists need to be held to the same standards as everybody else; they are not smarter, they are not better, they are power hungry.
Obama is the leader of the ones that want to leave you ‘change’ in your pockets after we all pay for their bailouts, and vacations.
No more socialism."
That sounds like my rules. - Eliot Spitzer
July 23, 2008
2:26 a.m.
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jugdish writes:
Judgish angry. Brother Krisha drive cab and get no such gas tax break. He earn living and pay tax fairly. This DNC thing terrible abuse of power. Pay no tax = Steal from taxpayer. Shame.
July 23, 2008
2:55 a.m.
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treecat writes:
As I have posted before: Your Great-grandchildren will STILL be paying for this.
July 23, 2008
3:17 a.m.
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cd95yj writes:
Ahhh, another story of politicians getting "special" treatment.
July 23, 2008
5:10 a.m.
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Joanne writes:
Not only is the Denver Government supporting the DNC in taking money out of the pockets of local businesses, but the DNC isn't even paying taxes. For the Mayor to suggest it is OK because he thought Michigan was doing the same for the RNC, is about as lame an excuse as why he didn't speak up regarding the singing of what was supposed to be the National Anthem. Kudos to the members who saw the discrepancy in what the taxpaying citizens pay, and what the tax imposing elitist pay. The supposed idea behind having a Convention is to aid local businesses, who foot the bill day in and day out for public services, schools, etc. My guess is that the Government gas tanks are bought through the bidding process, and without paying taxes, so not only was the DNC getting cheap gas and hurting the local small businesses, but taxes used to repair the infrastructure were evaded.
July 23, 2008
5:56 a.m.
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dan354 writes:
i would bet that if some of these democrats who lean towards communism have ever lived in a communist country. remember that guy stalin, you know big comrade savior guy. he only killed 44 million people or so if i remember right. my dad had some neighbors who lived under hitler and stalin. they liked living under hitler more. seriously in communist russia , they couldn't even trust russian made refregirators, they commonly caught fire, burning down houses with sleeping people inside. have they ever lived in china, or north korea with their millions of starving people.just a few thoughts on the demoratic party.
July 23, 2008
6 a.m.
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me2 writes:
We are the government. If government vehicle gas is taxed, then we pay twice for that gas.
No one should use these resources but government vehicles.
July 23, 2008
6:06 a.m.
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Mike846 writes:
Just once I'd like to see Hick take responsibility for SOMETHING. The reason there are unsigned contracts is so they wouldn't come to the attention of the Auditor, AND so the Mayor and others can say, "gee, we had NO idea". Denver voters, wake up. If you don't vote these idiots out of office, they'll just move on to the next scam and do it to you again. Mike
July 23, 2008
6:31 a.m.
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samsmargolis writes:
Snort. Safety and security reasons. For God's sake. Wonder who gave Hickenlooper that lame-*ss excuse for dodging the tax? Are you kidding me? The bad guys are so diabolical that they can suppose which gas pumps DNC attendees will use for fuel and taint the gas? Um, wouldn't other customers have issues with the fuel as well that would thereby provide a clue (the first one for this mayor) that something might be up to our paranoid friends? So, are the DNC attendees using the tax savings from the fuel dodge to pay their carbon credits to give the appearance of being oh-so-green?
July 23, 2008
6:40 a.m.
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skleepit writes:
Dems are notorious for saying what everyone should do, but they don't mean it for themselves!. Hell no, they lie, they cheat, they steal. Hillary is a perfect example. she f'd everybody and got away with it. This is just another in a long line of "do as I say, not as I do" BS. Before its to late all you jack asses who are going to vote for Obama you'd better shake yourselves and wake the hell up! That guy will permanently screw this Country up. As do all liberals. If you don't believe it look at no drilling, subsidy for ethonal (at the tune of about $6-8 per gallon!), gee, no wonder it's less expensive than gasoline. AARHG, I hate liberals, they are complete IDIOTS. If Obama wins, there WILL BE A REVOLUTION. and you socialist, liberals better watch the hell out!
July 23, 2008
6:49 a.m.
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Jim_in_Erie writes:
Wow.
All the liberals claiming that the eventual tally will show a net increase in revenues of one kind or another is........simply amazing.
Imagine, liberals justifying ANYTHING because of the all mighty dollar!
Thought that was an evil republican sin?
And Hickenloopers claim that it's all OK because someone else is doing it too.
Hard to argue with that kind of logic.
Although I don't recall that I ever let my kids get away with it.
Not to mention it appears to be that the Mayor misrepresented the truth in his claim.
(Apologies if this posts multiple times. There seems to be some 'issues' with the page. Perhaps because lots of people are commenting?)
July 23, 2008
6:53 a.m.
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Firefyte writes:
Is that right....Tax free gas for the demosocialists? But according to Obama removing gas tax would not help anything.....I guess it only helps if you are a damosocialist. And whats the deal with free car wash's? What the heck.....maybe the Denver tax payers should also pay for their dry cleaning and lap dances too. Maybe the new dem slogan should be "All for one - none for all"!
July 23, 2008
7:03 a.m.
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Flajack writes:
Remember, both of the top 2 candidates represent an organization (Senate) where their approval rating is 9 %..Do we really want to elect either one of them....Take a hard look at Pastor Chuck Baldwin from the Constitution Party...Chuckbaldwinlive.com...He is the only one that truly has this country's wishes at heart...No illegals, no North American Union, No United Nations in this country,No Abortions, No IRS, No Foreign Aid to countries that have always hated us and Drill,Drill,Drill Alaska and anywhere else there is oil....Sending our money to terrorist that hate us is a typical ploy of the Democrats to ultimately destroy this country using our own money...We need to fire them all this election..
July 23, 2008
7:08 a.m.
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Mic writes:
A reply to benzing:
The only people who will benefit from the democrat convention will be the liqueur stores, drug dealers, planned parenthood (a raciest organization), prostitutes and gay bars. And the local tax payers will foot the bill and there is nothing they can do about it. So bend over Denver, here they come...
benzing writes:
If we Denver taxpayers have to concede a few hundred thousand dollars in lost gas tax revenue in order to host an event that will bring in millions of dollars for the local economy and other tax channels, then it's a good deal for those taxpayers, no?
July 23, 2008
7:09 a.m.
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Marla writes:
This type of rampant CORRUPTION from the DEMOCRAT PARTY is nothing new. This is simply an extension of CORRUPT Chicago politics at its finest.
This needs to be investigated immediately starting with investigation for felony conspiracy of all key players involved. The entire DNC and Obama should be subpoenaed as well. After all, isn’t that the exact playbook the Democrats have used for the past 7 years? Oh please don’t tell us, the American people, that you Democrats have double standards! Two sets of laws, no laws for the Democrats and Draconian laws and taxation for the rest of us? Is that how the Democrats intend to rule the American people? It would appear that way.
Since Obama is the chief Bureaucrat head of the Democrat party, the blame for this robbery of the people is squarely on Obama. Because he is allegedly perfect and will solve all the world’s problems, according to the Democrats, not a single glitch or “UH-OH” should occur on his watch. Welcome to the real world kiddies and you will get your comeuppance, I guarantee it.
This act, by the Democrat Party, further locks in the precedence of how the Democrats will grab power to further enrich themselves, set up corrupt sweetheart deals, circumvent laws for their own advantage and stick it to the American tax payer every single day.
Get used to it, the Democrat mantra of "It's all Bush's fault" has now been reversed.
July 23, 2008
7:24 a.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
Stop ALL funding from whatever source that is being funnelled into the dnc. If they can'
t afford it, don't do it! Oh, yeah, right, that isn't the mantra from those guys. It's more like spend, spend, spend, then find a way to get the taxpayers to pay, pay, pay.
Recall lickenpooper! NOW! NOW!
July 23, 2008
7:25 a.m.
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youngman writes:
Driving big SUV's is not GREEN
Washing big SUV's is not GREEN
Not paying your fair share is not AMERICAN
what's up Democrats......thats right... your Socialists at the core
July 23, 2008
7:33 a.m.
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woodwose writes:
First of all, the city has no business selling the DNC host committee or anyone else gas from city owned pumps, period! I can understand why the city has it's own pumps. Lots of business that run large fleets of cars or trucks buy their gas in bulk and dispense it from their own facility. That's not a problem, but you don't just open up your facility for any Joe Schmo off the street who wants to fill up his tank.
Secondly, for the city to start providing services before completing complete the contract agreements that they are required by law to complete is illegal. And apparently the Hickenlooper administration has made a habit out of doing this. I'm all for getting stuff done as expeditiously as possible, but you don't violate the law to do it.
Next, for the city to "extend" it's ability not to pay taxes on gas to the DNC host committee is legally, ethically and morally wrong. I don't care if the DNC host committee is a non-profit organization. To allow them to fill up at city pumps without paying taxes on the gas they receive is not just cutting them a break. It would be bad if allowing this practice represented a "donation" to a non-profit partison organization, because that's illegal for a government to do as well. But it's actually much worse than that. It represents THEFT from the state and federal governments that impose gas excise taxes. Non-profit organizations are exempt from certain taxes, but state and federal excise taxes on gas do not fit in that category.
And now that Hickenlooper and the DNC host committee have been caught STEALING from the state and federal government, the doublespeak begins.
Chris Lopez from the DNC host committee calls his organization "non-profit and "non-partisan." The non-partisan part of that quote is one of the stupidest things I've heard anyone utter in public in years. The DNC host committee's very mission is to do everything it can to promote the Democratic Party. Calling them non-partisan is like calling the Gestapo a public service organization.
And then Hickenloopy bounces up with the daffy quote that he "knows for a fact that the RNC host committee" is getting the same arrangement from Minneapolis. So what? If I'm caught robbing a bank, can I just walk away scot-free if I point out that someone else robbed a bank too? And it turns out that based on what the spokesperson from the RNC host committee had to say, that in all likelihood, Hickenlooper got up in front of the press yesterday and told a bald-face lie.
We deserve far better from our elected officials than this.
July 23, 2008
7:34 a.m.
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Marla writes:
That's the best you Democrats can do? Is that what you are offering the American people?
This type of CORRUPTION is "Change That We Can Believe In?????"
Democrat corruption and robbing the American people and taxpaying citizens is "Change"?
Guess this confirms and destroys the notion that Obama's campaign is about CHANGE! How is more corruption, dodging taxes and screwing over the taxpayer define CHANGE?
Didn't think so. Well, now that the Obama Campaign has been exposed as a total lie and fraud, where do we the American people go from here?
July 23, 2008
7:42 a.m.
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Alive writes:
When, oh when will the people realise that there is really no difference between the democrats and republicans. Washington needs an enema. The people are the only ones that can administer it.
July 23, 2008
7:43 a.m.
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Marla writes:
This act of DEMOCRAT CORRUPTION clearly defines and exposes the mindset of the Obama Campaign and the Democrat Party in general.
This shows the mindset of the Obama Campaign. Where is Obama's condemnation of this wrongdoing?
The fact that the CORRUPT DEMOCRATS are still scheming, conniving, cheating, trying to get out of taxes, trying to get special favors for themselves, and trying to weasel out of everything simply demonstrates to the American people once again that the Democrats are in fact NOT in any way, shape or form - “Change That We Can Believe In”.
July 23, 2008
7:45 a.m.
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Marla writes:
William Jefferson Clinton- Impeached by the House of Representatives over allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice, but acquitted by the Senate. Scandals include Whitewater - Travelgate Gennifer Flowersgate - Filegate - Vince Fostergate - Whitewater Billing Recordsgate - Paula Jonesgate- Lincoln Bedroomgate - Donations from Convicted Drug and Weapons Dealersgate - Lippogate - Chinagate - The Lewinsky Affair - Perjury and Jobs for Lewinskygate - Kathleen Willeygate - Web Hubbell Prison Phone Callgate - Selling Military Technology to the Chinesegate - Jaunita Broaddrick Gate - Lootergate - Pardongate
Edward Moore Kennedy - Democrat - U. S. Senator from Massachusetts. Pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, after his car plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island killing passenger Mary Jo Kopechne.
Barney Frank - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1981 to present. Admitted to having paid Stephen L. Gobie, a male prostitute, for sex and subsequently hiring Gobie as his personal assistant. Gobie used the congressman's Washington apartment for prostitution. A move to expel Frank from the House of Representatives failed and a motion to censure him failed.
DNC - The Federal Election Commission imposed $719,000 in fines against participants in the 1996 Democratic Party fundraising scandals involving contributions from China, Korea and other foreign sources. The Federal Election Commission said it decided to drop cases against contributors of more than $3 million in illegal DNC contributions because the respondents left the country or the corporations are defunct.
Sandy Berger - Democrat - National Security Advisor during the Clinton Administration. Berger became the focus of a criminal investigation after removing highly classified terrorism documents and handwritten notes from the National Archives during preparations for the Sept. 11 commission hearings.
Robert Torricelli - Democrat - Withdrew from the 2002 Senate race with less than 30 days before the election because of controversy over personal gifts he took from a major campaign donor and questions about campaign donations from 1996.
James McGreevey - Democrat - New Jersey Governor . Admitted to having a gay affair. Resigned after allegations of sexual harassment, rumors of being blackmailed on top of fundraising investigations and indictments.
Jesse Jackson - Democrat - Democratic candidate for President. Admitted to having an extramarital affair and fathering a illegitimate child.
Gary Condit - Democrat - US Democratic Congressman from California. Condit had an affair with an intern. Condit, covered up the affair and lied to police after she went missing. No charges were ever filed against Condit. Her remains were discovered in a Washington DC park..
July 23, 2008
7:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Marla writes:
Eliot Spitzer- Democrat - New York governor - resigned from office after being tied to a prostitution ring.
Sowande Ajumoke Omokunde - Democrat - the son of newly elected U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, was booked on charges of criminal damage to property for allegedly slashing tires on 20 vans and cars rented by the Republican Party for use in Election Day voter turnout efforts.
Daniel David Rostenkowski - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1959 to 1995. Indicted on 17 felony charges- pleaded guilty to two counts of misuse of public funds and sentenced to seventeen months in federal prison.
Melvin Jay Reynolds - U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1993 to 1995. Convicted on sexual misconduct and obstruction of justice charges and sentenced to five years in prison.
Charles Coles Diggs, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Michigan from 1955 to 1980. Convicted on eleven counts of mail fraud and filing false payroll forms- sentenced to three years in prison.
George Rogers - Democrat - Massachusetts State House of Representatives from 1965 to 1970. M000ember of Massachusetts State Senate from 1975 to 1978. Convicted of bribery in 1978 and sentenced to two years in prison.
Don Siegelman - Democrat Governor Alabama - indicted in a bid-rigging scheme involving a maternity-care program. The charges accused Siegelman and his former chief of staff of helping Tuscaloosa physician Phillip Bobo rig bids. Siegelman was accused of moving $550,000 from the state education budget to the State Fire College in Tuscaloosa so Bobo could use the money to pay off a competitor for a state contract for maternity care.
John Murtha, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. Implicated in the Abscam sting, in which FBI agents impersonating Arab businessmen offered bribes to political figures; Murtha was cited as an unindicted co-conspirator
Gerry Eastman Studds - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1973 to 1997. The first openly gay member of Congress. Censured by the House of Representatives for having sexual relations with a teenage House page.
James C. Green - Democrat - North Carolina State House of Representatives from 1961 to 1977. Charged with accepting a bribe from an undercover FBI agent, but was acquitted. Convicted of tax evasion in 1997.
Frederick Richmond - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New York from 1975 to 1982. Arrested in Washington, D.C., in 1978 for soliciting sex from a minor and from an undercover police officer - pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Also - charged with tax evasion, marijuana possession, and improper payments to a federal employee - pleaded guilty.
July 23, 2008
7:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
Marla writes:
Raymond Lederer - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1981. Implicated in the Abscam sting - convicted of bribery and sentenced to three years in prison and fined $20,000.
Harrison Arlington Williams, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Senator from New Jersey from 1959 to 1970. Implicated in the Abscam sting. Allegedly accepted an 18% interest in a titanium mine. Convicted of nine counts of bribery, conspiracy, receiving an unlawful gratuity, conflict of interest, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Sentenced to three years in prison and fined $50,000.
Frank Thompson, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1955 to 1980. Implicated in the Abscam sting, convicted on bribery and conspiracy charges. Sentenced to three years in prison
Michael Joseph Myers - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1980. Implicated in the Abscam sting - convicted of bribery and conspiracy; sentenced to three years in prison and fined $20,000; expelled from the House of Representatives on October 2, 1980.
John Michael Murphy - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New York from 1963 to 1981. Implicated in the Abscam sting. Convicted of conspiracy, conflict of interest, and accepting an illegal gratuity. Sentenced to three years in prison and fined $20,000.
John Wilson Jenrette, Jr - Democrat - U.S. Representative from South Carolina from 1975 to 1980. Implicated in the Abscam sting. Convicted on bribery and conspiracy charges and sentenced to prison
Neil Goldschmidt - Democrat - Oregon governor. Admitted to having an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old teenager while he was serving as Mayor of Portland.
Alcee Lamar Hastings - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Florida. Impeached and removed from office as federal judge in 1989 over bribery charges.
Marion Barry - Democrat - mayor of Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 1991 and again from 1995 to 1999. Convicted of cocaine possession after being caught on videotape smoking crack cocaine. Sentenced to six months in prison.
Mario Biaggi - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New York from 1969 to 1988. Indicted on federal charges that he had accepted bribes in return for influence on federal contracts.Convicted of obstructing justice and accepting illegal gratuities. Tried in 1988 on federal racketeering charges and convicted on 15 felony counts.
Lee Alexander - Democrat - Mayor of Syracuse, N.Y. from 1970 to 1985. Was indicted over a $1.5 million kickback scandal. Pleaded guilty to racketeering and tax evasion charges. Served six years in prison.
July 23, 2008
7:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
tiredotax writes:
So the DNC gets tax free gas because they are afraid other gas may be "tainted"? GOOD GRIEF - they obviously over-estimate the value of themselves! That obviously means that the taxpayers can risk buying the "possibly tainted" fuel. How about letting the DNC take PUBLIC transportation and give the TAX FREE gas to the TAXPAYERS! If the DNC will bring tons of money in tax revenue to the city, then think what the taxpayers could do with THEIR tax savings! They could blow it at places like the grocery store, or even be able to afford new shoes and school supplies for all the kiddos.
Remember Marie Antionette's famous line - "Let Them Eat Cake".
July 23, 2008
7:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
Marla writes:
Bill Campbell - Democrat - Mayor of Atlanta. Indicted and charged with fraud over claims he accepted improper payments from contractors seeking city contracts.
Frank Ballance - Democrat - Congressman North Carolina. Pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering related to mishandling of money by his charitable foundation.
Hazel O'Leary - Democrat - Secretary of Energy during the Clinton Administration - O'leary took trips all over the world as Secretary with as many 50 staff members and at times rented a plane, which was used by Madonna during her concert tours.
Lafayette Thomas - Democrat - Candidate for Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1954. Sheriff of Davidson County, from 1972 to 1990. Indicted in federal court on 54 counts of abusing his power as sheriff. Pleaded guilty to theft and mail fraud; sentenced to five years in prison.
Mary Rose Oakar - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1977 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of funneling $16,000 through fake donors.
David Giles - Democrat - candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington in 1986 and 1990. Convicted in June 2000 of child rape.
Gary Siplin - Democrat state senator Florida- found guilty of third-degree grand theft of $5,000 or more, a felony, and using services of employees for his candidacy.
Edward Mezvinsky - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Iowa from 1973 to 1977. Indicted on 56 federal fraud charges.
Lena Swanson - Democrat - Member of Washington State Senate in 1997. Pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting unlawful payments from veterans and former prisoners of war.
Abraham J. Hirschfeld - Democrat - candidate in Democratic primary for U.S. Senator from New York in 1974 and 1976. Offered Paula Jones $1 million to drop her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton. Convicted in 2000 of trying to hire a hit man to kill his business partner.
Henry Cisneros - Democrat - U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1993 to 1997. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of lying to the FBI.
James A. Traficant Jr. - Member of House of Representatives from Ohio. Expelled from Congress after being convicted of corruption charges. Sentenced today to eight years in prison for accepting bribes and kickbacks.
July 23, 2008
7:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Marla writes:
John Doug Hays - Democrat - member of Kentucky State Senate from 1980 to 1982 Found guilty of mail fraud for submitting false campaign reports stemming from an unsuccessful run for judge. He was sentenced to six months in prison to be followed by six months of home confinement and three years of probation.
Henry J. Cianfrani - Democrat - Pennsylvania State Senate from 1967 to 1976. Convicted on federal charges of racketeering and mail fraud for padding his Senate payroll. Sentenced to five years in federal prison.
David Hall - Democrat - Governor of Oklahoma from 1971 to 1975. Indicted on extortion and conspiracy charges. Convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.
John A. Celona - Democrat - A former state senator was charged with the three counts of mail fraud. Federal prosecutors accused him of defrauding the state and collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from CVS Corp. and others while serving in the legislature. Celona has agreed to plead guilty to taking money from the CVS pharmacy chain and other companies that had interest in legislation. Under the deal, Celona agreed to cooperate with investigators. He faces up to five years in federal prison on each of the three counts and a $250,000 fine
Allan Turner Howe - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Utah from 1975 to 1977. Arrested for soliciting a policewoman posing as a prostitute.
Jerry Cosentino - Democrat - Illinois State Treasurer. Pleaded guilty to bank fraud - fined $5,000 and sentenced to nine months home confinement.
Joseph Waggonner Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Louisiana from 1961 to 19 79. Arrested in Washington, D.C. for soliciting a policewoman posing as a prostitute
Albert G. Bustamante - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Texas from 1985 to 1993. Convicted in 1993 on racketeering and bribery charges and sentenced to prison.
Lawrence Jack Smith - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Florida from 1983 to 1993. Sentenced to three months in federal prison for tax evasion.
David Lee Walters - Democrat - Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor election law violation.
James Guy Tucker, Jr. - Democrat - Governor of Arkansas from 1992 to 1996. Resigned in July 1996 after conviction on federal fraud charges as part of the Whitewater investigation.
Walter Rayford Tucker - Democrat - Mayor of Compton, California from 1991 to 1992; U.S. Representative from California from 1993 to 1995. Sentenced to 27 months in prison for extortion and tax evasion.
July 23, 2008
7:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Marla writes:
William McCuen - Democrat - Secretary of State of Arkansas from 1985 to 1995. Admitted accepting kickbacks from two supporters he gave jobs, and not paying taxes on the money. Admitted to conspiring with a political consultant to split $53,560 embezzled from the state in a sham transaction. He was indicted on corruption charges. Pleaded guilty to felony counts tax evasion and accepting a kickback. Sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Walter Fauntroy - Democrat - Delegate to U.S. Congress from the District of Columbia from 1971 to 1991. Charged in federal court with making false statements on financial disclosure forms. Pleaded guilty to one felony count and sentenced to probation.
Carroll Hubbard, Jr. - Democrat - Kentucky State Senate from 1968 to 1975 and U.S. Representative from Kentucky from 1975 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Federal Elections Commission and to theft of government property; sentenced to three years in prison.
Joseph Kolter - Democrat - member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1969 to 1982 and U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1983 to 1993. Indicted by a Federal grand jury on five felony charges of embezzlement at the U.S. House post office. Pleaded guilty.
Webster Hubbell - Democrat - Chief Justice of Arkansas State Supreme Court in 1983. Pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud and tax evasion charges - sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Nicholas Mavroules - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1979 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to charges of tax fraud and accepting gratuities while in office.
Carl Christopher Perkins - Democrat - Kentucky State House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984 and U.S. Representative from Kentucky from 1985 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to bank fraud in connection with the House banking scandal. Perkins wrote overdrafts totaling about $300,000. Pleaded guilty to charges of filing false statements with the Federal Election Commission and false financial disclosure reports. Sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Richard Hanna - Democrat - U.S. Representative from California from 1963 to 1974. Received payments of about $200,000 from a Korean businessman in what became known as the "Koreagate" influence buying scandal. Pleaded guilty and sentenced to federal prison.
Angelo Errichetti - Democrat - New Jersey State Senator was sentenced to six years in prison and fined $40,000 for his involvement in Abscam.
Daniel Baugh Brewster - Democrat - U.S. Senator from Maryland. Indicted on charges of accepting illegal gratuity while in Senate.
July 23, 2008
7:58 a.m.
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Marla writes:
Thomas Joseph Dodd - Democrat - U.S. Senator from Connecticut. Censured by the Senate for financial improprieties, having diverted $116,000 in campaign and testimonial funds to his own use
Edward Fretwell Prichard, Jr. - Democrat - Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky. Convicted of vote fraud in federal court in connection with ballot-box stuffing. Served five months in prison.
Jerry Springer - Democrat - Resigned from Cincinnati City Council in 1974 after admitting to paying a prostitute with a personal check, which was found in a police raid on a massage parlor.
Guy Hamilton Jones, Sr. - Democrat -Arkansas State Senate. Convicted on federal tax charges and expelled from the Arkansas Senate.
Daniel Flood - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1945 to 1947, 1949 to 1953 and 1955 to 1980. Pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge involving payoffs and sentenced to probation.
Otto Kerner, Jr - Democrat - Governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. While serving as Governor, he and another official made a gain of over $300,000 in a stock deal. Convicted on 17 counts of bribery, conspiracy, perjury, and related charges. Sentenced to three years in federal prison and fined $50,000.
George Crockett, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Michigan. Served four months in federal prison for contempt of court following his defense of a Communist leader on trial for advocating the overthrow of the government.
Cornelius Edward Gallagher - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1959 to 1973. Indicted on federal charges of income tax evasion, conspiracy, and perjury
Mark B. Jimenez - Democrat fundraiser - sentenced to 27 months in prison on charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit election financing offenses.
Bobby Lee Rush - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Illinois. As a Black Panther, spent six months in prison on a weapons charge.
Bolley ''Bo'' Johnson - Democrat - Former Florida House Speaker - received a two-year term for tax evasion.
Roger L. Green - Democrat - Brooklyn Democrat Assemblyman. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for accepting travel reimbursement for trips he did not pay for and was sentenced to fines and probation.
Gloria Davis - Democrat - Bronx assemblywoman. Pleaded guilty to second-degree bribe-taking.
July 23, 2008
7:59 a.m.
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rushrulesbaby writes:
Ya gotta love these dems! What a bunch of self rightous pigs!
July 23, 2008
8:02 a.m.
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Marla writes:
Just the tip of the iceberg, an endless supply of Democrat corruption.
This incident clearly demonstrates that the Democrats are NOT at all even remotely about "Change That We Can Believe In".
Obama and the DNC are simply more of the same so in reality they are not any more important or needed than any other run-of-the-mill political crooks.
July 23, 2008
8:02 a.m.
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RJS07 writes:
I'm more interested in knowing why they think the gasoline in Denver is "tainted." What is that about?
Denver presently has a contract bought sometime back for its gasoline which is allowing the city to purchase it less expensively. (This is a good thing for the taxpayers.) When that fuel is gone, however, the city will have to purchase more fuel at a MUCH higher price. It will be gone sooner because the DNC host committee has used some of it. (That is a bad thing for taxpayers.)
I suspect this whole boondoggle is NOT going to end up being a good thing for Denver businesses and citizens in the long run.
July 23, 2008
8:10 a.m.
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Longhorn writes:
Everyone is missing the point here. It is not LEGAL for a non-profit to not pay the gas tax. On top of that, Lickenpooper does not have the authority to waive the gas tax.
The funny thing is that even if the RNC was getting the same break in Minnesota (which they aren't), it might not be a crime there. Breaking the law in Colorado because someone else might be doing it is no excuse for breaking the law.
Just another example of the corruption in the Democratic party.
July 23, 2008
8:15 a.m.
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gruffbear writes:
ToeNee: You're just reciting one of the Big Lies of the Democrats: that when Democrats get caught doing something, it's ok, because "Republicans do it too."
Republicans aren't stealing gas taxes in Minnesota, unlike Democrats are in Colorado. But Denver's mayor wants everyone to believe Republicans are, so he says he "knows for a fact" when in fact he doesn't know. He's just promoting a Democrat Big Lie.
The fact is, Democrats take to corruption and machine politics like white on rice, and Republicans don't. Democrats can't possibly come up with a list of Republican malfeasance that's as long as the one Marla documents, because Republicans reject corruption just as Democrats embrace it.
So, ToeJam, believe the Democrat Big Lies if you want to, but as for me, I don't believe in lies. And I don't support politicians who lie. And I don't support political parties that embrace lies as part of their culture.
July 23, 2008
8:15 a.m.
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DavidE writes:
The arrangement isn't legal. The city cannot transfer its exemption to the committee. The cars for the com