The Libertarian Snakebite Kit - Day

10:08PM - The reptiles strike again

On January 11, the Washington Post reported in the article U.S. Tells D.C. to Pay Inaugural Expenses that:

D.C. officials said yesterday that the Bush administration is refusing to reimburse the District for most of the costs associated with next week's inauguration, breaking with precedent and forcing the city to divert $11.9 million from homeland security projects.

Federal officials have told the District that it should cover the expenses by using some of the $240 million in federal homeland security grants it has received in the past three years -- money awarded to the city because it is among the places at highest risk of a terrorist attack.

Gee, wouldn't it be nice if the RNC was required to pay for the entire farce, since the election was rigged.

Later in the article, it states:

The $17.3 million the city expects to spend on this inauguration marks a sharp increase from the $8 million it incurred for Bush's first.

According to Williams's letter, the District anticipates spending $8.8 million in overtime pay for about 2,000 D.C. police officers; $2.7 million to pay 1,000-plus officers being sent by other jurisdictions across the country; $3 million to construct reviewing stands; and $2.5 million to place public works, health, transportation, fire, emergency management and business services on emergency footing.

A nice little private sector shindig (hey, you get to buy access to government officials, don't you?) once again paid for by taxpayers disenfranchised by the current corrupt system. Why don't they just call it a coronation or one of those "public" commissions like fuckin' Dickie likes to run?

Later in the article it says that all DC area Federal employees will be given a paid day off. That'll cost another $70 million or so. I say that should come from Bush and Cheney's wallet.