Comments on: COMPASS To Provide “Hosted Bar” to Legislators

By: Gordon

Gordon — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:15:39 +0000

“it is misuse of public funds let alone a violation of the public trust, for anyone to use public money for the benefit of a select few.”

Wow! There’s a law I bet none of our city, county, state and shadow-gov officials never heard of!

Hmmm … would this apply to the private use of the public’s Depot, Guardian? Sis? Anybody?

By: Little Sis

Little Sis — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:53:37 +0000

Dave doesn’t drink……I mean he really doesn’t drink. I’m a government employee in another State and City. Our policy on public spending is soooo tight the City won’t even contribute to a retirement celebration for 40 year employees,(booze or no booze). It’s actually a Federal Law that unless the “celebration is a general community event, like a 4th of July parade, it is misuse of public funds let alone a violation of the public trust, for anyone to use public money for the benefit of a select few.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:11:09 +0000

Grumpy, et al.:

Who stole your sense of humor. I think that Dave can take a little good natured jabbing. Maybe you should follow his example before YOU “leap”.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:06:36 +0000

I don’t believe “heavy hors d’oeuvres” is anything as elaborate as a roasted pig with all the trimmings. I believe “light hors d’oeuvres” are fancy little fu-fu sammiches with bread just on the bottom, and “heavy hors d’oeuvres” have the traditional 2 slices of bread.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:28:58 +0000

This must be one of the rooms we never get to visit where all the decisions are made.

What I found out, with very little digging, is an outfit by the name of HDR, Boise Office, is the host of this event for COMPASS. Guess what they specialize in …Rail Transit projects! I can smell the stimulus pork getting served up already.

So much for violation of public meeting laws. Its a party, not a public meeting and that is how things get decided in the Great State of Idaho where we ranked 44th in governmental integrity in a recent report seen in the local papers.

By: Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:22:46 +0000

Gordon,

I’ve often said that “drunk, stoned and TRYING to, I don’t think I could muck things up any worse.” I originally said it very tongue-in-cheek; but it’s increasingly looking like it might actually be true!

I rarely-if-ever pass on an opportunity to skewer our elected officials when they force us all to suspend disbelief; but there’s no sport in it when they make it as easy as they have as of late.

One can only hope the Shadow Government finally wraps its head around “Performance Bonds” on this project, regardless of its locale. Though receiving State (Idaho § 54-1927) and Federal (40 U.S.C. Section 3131 to 3134) cash may force them to.

By: David Zarkin

David Zarkin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:36:39 +0000

All this is small potatoes compared to the weekend party Wells Fargo, who gets federal bailout bucks, had planned for employees in Vegas. So how much did this booze and eats event cost the taxpayers? That part is missing from your story. Keep up the good work

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:54:59 +0000

Yeah, I want to know about those “heavy” hors d’oeuvres. Ya reckon maybe they’re whole roast pigs, like at a luau?

As far as paying for the booze — I think maybe I’d rather they spend my taxes on booze than on more of their idiotic projects. As for legislators getting drunk — I doubt they could do any worse drunk than they do sober (and that’s giving them the benefit of the doubt about whether they’re sober the rest of the time).

So is The Guardian going to go, to see whether they will let him (representing the public) in?

Hmmm … we’ll all be eager to learn what happens.

By: Mr. Logic

Mr. Logic — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:28:41 +0000

I like the LOGIC of any citizen going to a gathering of elected officials from City, County and State governments long with the various highway districts.

Seems only fair that citizens should have the same opportunity as bureaucrats to speak to a state senator or representative. See you Thursday about 5:30 p.m. Aloha!

By: Serendipity

Serendipity — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:17:15 +0000

Can I be a lobbyist for the SRA?