Hastert wastes $20,000 in taxpayer money on lavish trips during last 11 months in office.
Filed Under: Ethics
By on Jun 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Hastert wastes $20,000 in taxpayer money on lavish trips during last 11 months in office.
The AP has found out that during former House speaker Dennis Hastert’s last 11 months in office, he “managed to visit seven nations and run up a tab of just over $20,000 in taxpayer-funded overseas trips.” Hastert — who held no leadership position in Congress during this time — traveled to the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, China, Japan, and Colombia. In contrast, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) took taxpayer funded trips to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan; he “received $1,195 in per diem, but spent $827.16 and returned the rest to the U.S. treasury.”
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“Coach” is just making some pre-lobbying contacts. Are there any notable golf courses in Colombia?
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 pmBusiness Freight Class ain’t cheap for El Rotundo.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 pmMaybe he was scouting out some new meat for his personal ‘wrestling’ program.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 pmOh, Denny. You silly sausage!
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 pmSo that’s the dirt on Hastahurt. I used to think he was such on honest man.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 pmwhat a dick
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pmbig government-loving dick
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pmThere were photos of “Denny” some time ago, showing him with some oil and gas buddies in Alaska. Apparently, there were several Alaska trips. “Denny” didn’t miss any meals either as can be seen. He apparently thought the hard-earned money of folks who actually have to pay taxes was party money. But, sadly, there is no one in the government including the DOJ who would be interested. They are all busy padding their own nests. So, “Denny” knows there is no one or agency that’s going to touch him. Interesting to note that a friend of mine is getting harrassed by IRS for a Legitimate $5,000 deduction and millions are missing in Iraq but…Denny will skate. That’s called justice in this country. Fact is, for average folk there ain’t no justice in the USA.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 pmHey, if you covered that much for Mark Foley (R-FL-Page Text Harasser), you’d want to get away, too.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 pmThese people still need help and that lard a$s spends $20,000 of OUR money on lavish trips?
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 pmActually that’s not that much.
For a piggly wiggly like Hastert, he would have to pay $1,000 for the MALE hookers.
http://prisonplanet.com/ articles/ October2006/ 091006_b_Hastert.htm
What a PIG!
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 pmHussein McCain Says:
So that’s the dirt on Hastahurt. I used to think he was such on honest man.
Didn’t you know he’s a Republican?
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 pmHey, when you are on your way out, you gotta milk it for all it’s worth. Truly the Republican way.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 pmAnd that doesn’t even count the cost of his salary nor the cost of the policies he supported.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 pmAHHH. The party that used to be for fiscal responsibility… I guess that IOKIYAR.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 pmI hate that fat prick.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pmA pig at the trough to the very end.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 pmhassert gets leid while foley gets laid…… everybody wins?
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 pmIs anyone aware that lock_box is offering racially offensive links in other threads on this site? My kin are from Hanover, but, I still am offended!
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 pmWell, as a good Republican and a conservative, at least he wasn’t leeching off the government like those welfare queens.
Oh wait…
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 pmDo you think Hastahurt and Foley ever grappled with each other?
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:31 pmI think that headline should read: Hastert Wastes Public Money, Time, Oxygen, Airwaves, Stationery, Hard-Drive Space During Entire Career.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 pmiokiyar.
and a fat one at that.
*
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm}8@P Oink Oink
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 pmDo you think Hastahurt and Foley ever grappled with each other?
Brain bleach for cleanup aisle 25
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 pmThank you, Mr. Hastert, for showing the American people how Republicans handle their hard-earned tax dollars. How on Earth the Republicans manage to paint themselves as the “party of fiscal responsibility” is beyond me.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 pmJune 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
DaWrong!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 pmIt’s just the Rubberstamp Republicans’ Farewell Tour. Did anyone seriously think they wouldn’t belly up to the trough one last time?
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:20 pmHe looks like a diabolical, NeoCon, Fat, untalented, version of crooner Don Ho in that picture.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 pmPelosi said the Democrats would lower the price of gas. Ha! Under her leadership, gas prices have gone from 2.20 per gallon to 4.08 of gallon. -TheRight
Wrong again.
2006 2.95
2007 3.13
2008 3.60
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:22 pmNow, a question for TheRight, who created the Enron loophole?
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:23 pmI think you mean Don hohos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HoHos
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 pmTheRight
no link?
oh that’s right.
iokiyar.
duh.
good luck.
*
what are you going to after november?
kill yourself?
or kill someone else?
good luck.
*
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 pm20,000 dollars in a whole year? christ that makes me respect the guy!
thing that bothers me is he protected that sexual predator.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 pmBAGHDAD — A disgruntled local official opened fire Monday on U.S. soldiers attending a municipal council meeting southeast of Baghdad, killing two of them and wounding four other Americans, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.
ho - hum…wonder if the corporate media will report this???
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2008/ 06/ 23/ iraqi-councilman-kills-us_n_108773.html
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm$20,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to his earmarks that helped him rack in alot of money.
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) made a $2 million profit last year on the sale of land 5 1/2 miles from a highway project that he helped to finance with targeted federal funds.
The allegation that Hastert used a home-district “earmark” for his personal enrichment is now at the center of a tussle between the most powerful man in Congress and a new watchdog organization that uncovered the land deal this month
His is so dishonest, I hope they throw him in jail where he belongs.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:14 pmvegasbaby- msnbc.com is not covering this- very disturbing.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 pmFreedom Rebel
if only the reight
would defend him!
reightie?
reightie…?
good luck.
*
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 pmHastert wastes the air he breathes, the food he consumes and the space he occupies.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 pmHe’s Belgian, so the trip there was a family visit. After he’s done in congress, he can enjoy the profits from a sweet real estate deal he got from earmarks for a highway serving the future Peotone airport.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 pmThe taxpayers probably paid for the operation he appears to have had to shed the flab he carried around. The photo with tis story is old. Hastert’s not fat anymore.
Most likely, he’ll be replaced by a Democrat.
Like Tom Delay, his puppetmaster, he thinks he personifies the government.
what about all the money Hussein OBama wants to waste taxing us???? or do you guys just no t care about higher taxes , or are you ladies??
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:38 pmdrick23, yeah he probably wants to waste that money feeding babies and educating people and other dumb stuff like that instead of starting a cool new war in Iran. P.S. I am a guy, a gal, a lady and a gent.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 pmdrick23 Says:
Barack can you pass the Coffee??
Sure Hussein here it is.
Thanks Obama!!!!
No prob Akmed!!!
Hey I’m Osmam get it right.
Ok sorry Laden u are right.
Change is awesome!!!!!!!!! For the hard working Mikes, Tommys Johns, Andy and whatever ur name is out there.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 pmno i just dont want BHO taxing oil cos making prices go up.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:00 amdrick23 Says:
no i just dont want BHO taxing oil cos making prices go up.
dick,
you?
good luck.
*
June 24th, 2008 at 12:05 ami guess good luck driving my suv next year if BHO is in office since gas will be 20 bucks a gallon
June 24th, 2008 at 12:15 amSo, the GREAT TP is moderating my comments again. Thanks - makes life so difficult.
I’ll split it into sections & see if that’s OK with the powers that be.
Sorry I’m late on the blog and only for a few minutes. Mourning for George Carlin - may you have a good journey and much peace dear friend.
======================================
Dennis Hastert is as DIRTY as they come.
Implicated by Sibel Edmonds [from wiretaps during 2001 & 2002] of taking around half a $million in bribes by shadowy Turkish interest groups; forced out for his role in covering up the Mark Foley Page Sex Scandal; As of June 2008 he will join a lobbying firm involved with Turkey.
Rolling Stone listed him as one of the worst 10 congressmen:
Hastert could well be the weakest House speaker in history. Tapped by Tom DeLay to serve as the mild-mannered frontman for the GOP leadership, the former wrestling coach ceded most of his power to the now-disgraced majority leader, allowing Republicans to treat the Capitol as their private piggy bank. Last year, Hastert got in on the action himself, secretly inserting $207 million into the budget for the “Prairie Parkway” — a highway that will speed development of 210 acres he owns in Illinois. Before the year was out, Hastert sold part of his land — soon to be the site of a sprawling subdivision — for a profit of $2 million.
-more-
June 24th, 2008 at 12:31 amyeah they cant handle opposition.. just like a marxist…
June 24th, 2008 at 12:38 amTP - you’re making me mad. I can’t post the rest of my comment … all awaiting moderation.
If anyone’s interested in seeing the rest of my comment here’s the link:
Rolling Stones 10 Worst Congressmen
So, what’s a measly $20,000?
RepubLIEcons - ain’t they great?
June 24th, 2008 at 12:38 am20 grand what joke. who cares Obama saved that on his deals with rezko. no mention of that here of course
June 24th, 2008 at 12:40 amdrick23 Says:
no i just dont want BHO taxing oil cos making prices go up.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am
_______
Like the oil companies need an excuse to make prices go up?
June 24th, 2008 at 12:41 amdrick23 Says: i guess good luck driving my suv next year if BHO is in office since gas will be 20 bucks a gallon
Oooo - you gotta crystal ball or sumpin’?
Thanks to you repub-LIE-CONS gas is $4.50 a gallon. Save your crap - you might need to burn it for cooking fuel.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:42 amdrick23 Says:
20 grand what joke. who cares Obama saved that on his deals with rezko. no mention of that here of course
Getting your info from the morally bankrupt mental midget Lindsay Graham?
That’s why we don’t need to mention it - it’s bunk.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:48 amdrick23 Says:
what about all the money Hussein OBama wants to waste taxing us???? or do you guys just no t care about higher taxes , or are you ladies??
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
_______
So let me see if I can understand this logic. Does not caring about higher taxes make us ladies? Are you implying that women and men have different senses of appropriation and fiscal policy?
And raising taxes is not necessarily “wasting” money. Now starting a $4 trillion war over a lie - THAT’s a waste of money.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:51 amhussein toasterhead #61
I’m sure that’s way over little drickey’s head. It’s almost unfair to argue with such an unequipped opponent.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:55 amhussein toasterhead says thanks to W for keeping you safe and I guess A muslim prayer for OBama because we are screwed. and yes it is being a sissy not standing up for higher taxes, i cringe at my paycheck for taxes, just wait for univ hc
June 24th, 2008 at 1:26 amI guess A muslim prayer for OBama because we are screwed.
He’s not a muslim, bonehead.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:30 ami cringe at my paycheck for taxes, just wait for univ hc
Poor baby.
I pay out more in tips than you do in taxes, so buck up, little soldier.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:31 amTheRight Says:
$20k is nothing compared to the cost of having a private jet fly Pelosi and her friends and family back and forth to Califonia.
Did you know that Dennis Hastert had a private C-20 Learjet?
June 24th, 2008 at 8:49 amdrick23 Says:
A muslim prayer for OBama
Hussein Obama is a Muslim, who went to school in a madrassas. No, wait Barak was a member of one of those nasty black Christian churches that we don’t like. Besides, Obama isn’t white enough, and Barak isn’t black enough. And on top of that he’s an elitist who put himself through an ivy league school after growing up in a poor single parent family. Then he used his elitist education to help nasty homeless black people, that we don’t like get, housing on the south side of Chicago, just so he could get elected to the Illinois legislature.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:02 amThe Right@9:54 PM
June 24th, 2008 at 9:09 amWould it be too much to ask you to Google “Pelosi and Government flights?” Yes I’m sure it would be!
I’m not a Dr. but I can plainly read that your addiction to Faux News and the BS that spews from them daily has taken over what thinking process you might have had !
You’re about a year and a half behind the story of Pelosi and flying on the government tab! Turns out it was set up by the Republican Congress after 9-11!
Do yourself,the day-ward you’re locked down on, and the WWW, stick to gluing popsicle sticks together and keep your dumb comments to the droolers on your left and right!
Klem Kiddilehopper Says:
You’re about a year and a half behind the story of Pelosi and flying on the government tab! Turns out it was set up by the Republican Congress after 9-11!
Remember the stink raised in the liberal biased news media when the Republicans in Congress gave Denny Hastert a Learjet after 9/11?
No? I don’t either.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:40 amDenny Hastert, another Republican “cut spending” hypocrite.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:44 amTheRight Says:
Al Bore are some of the biggest polluters in the US.
Wrong again.
Gore makes Nashville home more ‘green’
Al Gore, who was criticized for high electric bills at his Tennessee mansion, has completed a host of improvements to make the home more energy efficient, and a building-industry group has praised the house as one of the nation’s most environmentally friendly.
The former vice president has installed solar panels, a rainwater-collection system and geothermal heating. He also replaced all incandescent lights with compact fluorescent or light-emitting diode bulbs — even on his Christmas tree.
“Short of tearing it down and staring anew, I don’t know how it could have been rated any higher,” said Kim Shinn of the U.S. Green Building Council, which gave the house its second-highest rating for sustainable design.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:49 amWow, the camera puts on a . . . couple-hundred-pounds.
June 24th, 2008 at 10:40 am“Hastert wastes $20,000 in taxpayer money on bratwurst during last 11 months in office.”
June 24th, 2008 at 11:02 amwhat a fat pig this FACIST is!!!! I hope he gets fater and have a stroke!
June 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pmYou people are hateful bigots. You have to make fun of someone being overweight? That’s real mature. You all belong in the 3rd grade.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:18 pmI’m disgusted to associate myself with the rest of you. I joined the left wing to get away from hate and run square into it.
This is a site I used to link my righty friends too, and all the hate you spew here just gets thrown back in my face and I get laughed at. Thanks a lot.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pmninja96 - name a “righty” website that doesn’t spew much worse venom aimed at the left. Plus - they delete comments if they aren’t in lockstep with GOP talking points.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pmtheright and his ilk always do the Democrats did that, Clinton did that game…
Tell you what buddy, here’s a secret teachers know (oh yes, we Commie Socialist bastards!), if a student used that as an excuse, we’d be punishing him nonetheless…
June 25th, 2008 at 12:07 am