MD Repub Senate Candidate Bills Taxpayers for Security for Political Trips

[ISUGRADIA]

My question is: why the hell does the LIEUTENANT Governor of Maryland need a security detail in the first place? Most US SENATORS do not have bodyguards or security on staff. It's more egregious that the state is getting billed for his security while he visits Repubs in Spain (political trips) but the fact he has staff devoted to this to begin with seems crazy.



http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/economic_view/economic_snapshot/2006/02/20/baltimore_story1.html?page=1

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele took more than 20 political trips in the past year, billing Maryland taxpayers each time for his security protection to places as far away as Spain.

From July 2004 through December 2005, the lieutenant governor traveled to 21 cities in the name of the Republican Party and two additional destinations in the name of his campaign for U.S. Senate.

Although he did not ask the state to pay for his airfare, lodging or meals, Maryland taxpayers are responsible for his executive protection expenses totaling more than $49,000.

...

Of Steele's more than $49,000 in security expenses, the largest chunks were attributed to two different occasions. The first trip from Aug. 29, 2004 through Sept. 3, 2004 -- to New York City for the Republican National Convention -- cost almost $8,000 in executive protection pay. The second one from May 3, 2005 through May 8, 2005 -- to Spain for an unspecified GOP event -- cost more than $13,500 in security.

[LeftCoast]

1. It would be interesting to see who provided security

Could this be some form of kick-back?

[davidinalameda]

2. it was the Maryland State Police

they mention that further down in the article