Not sure why I hadn’t posted this back in January but a friend recently friended the Earl Blumenaur page on Facebook and it reminded me. I live in Washington and Blummy represents in Oregon, he wouldn’t even chat with me over email on this. His stock (staff’s) response was that I wasn’t in his constituency so he wanted me to talk to my representatives. I call this BS, a lobbiest from where ever can represent a topic from his area and talk to him but living near isn’t good enough. Anyway, this public official used our money to enjoy himself in Copenhagen and it irritates me. Here’s the letter to Obama but the same was sent to Earl and all the other elected officials who abused our public funds:
FROM THE DESK OF
KRISTIAN L VOCKLER
January 27, 2010 President Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama,
While on my way to work a few mornings ago I heard on National Public Radio (NPR) a spot about our Congressional delegation to Denmark for the Copenhagen Climate Sum- mit meetings. Upon conducting further research later, I was extremely bothered to read about the excessive food and hotel charges paid by everyone attending from the US.
According to a January 25th article by CBS News (“Congress Went to Denmark, You Got the Bill”), 15 Democratic and 6 Republican Congressmen spent $4,406 each on food and lodging for two nights, that’s $2,200 a day for each of them. As well, according to the article, 59 House and Senate staff flew to Copenhagen at airfare prices averaging $6,916.34 each. According to the article, that roster doesn’t include your accompanying staff of 60.
I am Vice President of a small international company that makes green and sustainable coatings for the construction industry. We employ people, pay local, state and federal taxes, and contribute to the community by helping others. My work takes me across the globe. Never have I spent anything like what our delegation did on flights and accommodations/meals. I use frequent flier miles to get upgrades to business class. Spending even $400 a night for a hotel in any part of the world would be an outrageous luxury for me. I would feel guilty using corporate funds in this self-indulgent fashion. Why don’t our elected representatives feel the same guilt at using taxpayers’ money in such an exorbitant manner?
Due to our economy I had to lay off people this year.I have many friends who are out of work. Every one of us has had to tighten our belts in the current economic climate. Why then are our elected officials are allowed to spend money like they are high-rolling jet- setters? While I support the good work enabled by the Summit (even if no tangible results have yet come of it), it has been tainted by the embarrassing attitude of entitlement that I feel my elected officials appear to have. That attitude leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of us hard-working citizens and leaves us wondering why it is we are asked to pay ever- increasing taxes while having to tighten our own belts on the home front
In closing, I am left feeling defeated. Why should I work so hard to help fund these ridicu- lous and unchallenged extravagances of our elected officials?
Sincerely yours, Kristian L Vockler
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