It’s the Little Things, Governor

Governor Easley may well be right that the trips he and First Lady Mary Easley took to Europe are worth it to North Carolina.



But some dogs just won’t hunt when people are paying $4 a gallon for gas. Like:




  • $27,000 for a round-the-clock chauffeured Mercedes-Benz



  • $34,388 for five business-class plane tickets



  • $800 a night for a hotel



  • And unfortunately for Art Museum Director Larry Wheeler, a $175 food and drink bill at a hotel after dinner. The N&O quoted Wheeler as saying he wasn’t sure what that was for. “It could have been for hors d’oeuvres and drinks. I don’t know.”


Worst of all for the Easleys and Wheeler, the state trooper who went with the First Lady “typically billed the $7.50 for breakfast, $9.75 for lunch and $19 for dinner allowed under the state’s policy,” the N&O reported.



From my experience as Governor Hunt’s press secretary, let me assure everyone involved with the state that there is no explanation that will wash with the public.



And you – and Bev Perdue – can expect Pat McCrory & Co. to wrap every bill around your political neck this fall.



You have to watch the little stuff.



A rule of thumb is that the smaller the expenditure the greater the outrage.



It’s not the $109,000 total tab that people will remember. Just as few people got exercised over the $400 million the N&O says the state wasted on mental health. It’s the cars, plane tickets, hotels and meals that stick in the public’s craw.



Witness the excitement over the (former) Wake County employee who traveled far and wide on the taxpayers’ dollar.



The little stuff adds up.




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Gary Pearce

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It’s the Little Things, Governor

Governor Easley may well be right that the trips he and First Lady Mary Easley took to Europe are worth it to North Carolina.



But some dogs just won’t hunt when people are paying $4 a gallon for gas. Like:




  • $27,000 for a round-the-clock chauffeured Mercedes-Benz



  • $34,388 for five business-class plane tickets



  • $800 a night for a hotel



  • And unfortunately for Art Museum Director Larry Wheeler, a $175 food and drink bill at a hotel after dinner. The N&O quoted Wheeler as saying he wasn’t sure what that was for. “It could have been for hors d’oeuvres and drinks. I don’t know.”


Worst of all for the Easleys and Wheeler, the state trooper who went with the First Lady “typically billed the $7.50 for breakfast, $9.75 for lunch and $19 for dinner allowed under the state’s policy,” the N&O reported.



From my experience as Governor Hunt’s press secretary, let me assure everyone involved with the state that there is no explanation that will wash with the public.



And you – and Bev Perdue – can expect Pat McCrory & Co. to wrap every bill around your political neck this fall.



You have to watch the little stuff.



A rule of thumb is that the smaller the expenditure the greater the outrage.



It’s not the $109,000 total tab that people will remember. Just as few people got exercised over the $400 million the N&O says the state wasted on mental health. It’s the cars, plane tickets, hotels and meals that stick in the public’s craw.



Witness the excitement over the (former) Wake County employee who traveled far and wide on the taxpayers’ dollar.



The little stuff adds up.




Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.

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Gary Pearce

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