I hope they enjoyed our party
Every once in a while, a window opens into the mindset of politicians and the people who cover them. In recent days, both WTVD television and the News & Observer reported on a Christmas party hosted by Gov. Beverly Perdue at the governor’s mansion. The party was held for convicted felons — many of them killers — who perform maintenance around the mansion. Both news outlets made the same claim about the party’s funding (a talking point presumably supplied by Perdue’s staff). As the N&O reported:
The event didn’t cost taxpayers anything. During the year, the mansion is available for private receptions and fees from those events paid for the party.
Excuse me, but taxpayers own the governor’s mansion. Any revenue generated by private functions held there likewise belongs to taxpayers. In fact, we did pay for the prisoner party. That was our money. How does two separate teams of journalists not grasp this fundamental fact?
December 21st, 2009 at 10:24 am
Before ITA charges (with some overtly derogatory language about me and the news organizations) that I couldn’t possibly agree with you due to my obsession, I’ll state that I agree wholeheartedly.
Perfectly fair complaint backed by factual accuracy.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:02 pm
It’s a lot like whenever a local or state official says that something is being paid with federal money, as if that’s free and none of us locally contribute to that pot of money.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Sheesh! NIT, take it easy dude. I agree with YOU.
Now go have a beer (or a qualude), and rest. Opinions vary (though John tends to provide better flourish). That’s OK, really.
December 21st, 2009 at 3:57 pm
She’s just networking with her future career associates.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Okay, here is the latest chapter in the book of government efficiency in NC. Late last year, I switched payroll companies for my business. Unfortunately, one of the multiple screw ups by the former service was to remit payment for my quarterly state unemployment taxes (which they withdrew from my checking account without authorization) almost 2 months after I canceled their service. So, I’ve been trying to get the money back ever since.
It has been a couple months since the former company sent correspondence to the ESC informing them of the error, amount of the overpayment and a request for a refund. So I called the office on Thursday last week only to listen to a recording about how the whole place was on holiday for the holiday. Okay, fine (our employees had to work but okay). I called again today, was told by 2 different people to call 2 different numbers and then, after blazing my way through a phone tree jungle, was transferred 3 different times. The final person explained the situation using these exact words. “The status of your refund is pending because it hasn’t been approved. Basically, [the only person with authority to do so] hasn’t gotten around to it yet.” This is an exact quote. She transferred me to this person where I was given the option of leaving a voice mail.
I can understand they’re busy at the unemployment office but you would think they would frame an excuse in a little brighter light than they haven’t gotten around to something sitting on their desk for 2 months. I’m sure they wouldn’t be as understanding if I let my remittance sit on my desk for a few months before I got around to approving it.