Tuesday, January 5, 2010
If this is the best the Democrats have against Brown then he's is very good shape indeed: Scott Brown banks thousands in per-diems
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown - who called for a federal wage freeze yesterday - has cashed in on more than 130 taxpayer-funded daily travel allowances to the State House this year, a Herald review shows.
Brown ranks ninth among state senators who took so-called "per diems" last year, the review shows, even as he raked in some $80,000 from his private law practice and also pocketed an extra $15,000 in a taxpayer-funded stipend as an assistant minority whip.
"It's hard to be a small government candidate when you're taking full advantage of what your position in government has to offer," said Boston University communications professor Tobe Berkovitz [Who?].
Brown faces Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley and long-shot independent candidate Joseph L. Kennedy in the Jan. 19 Senate election for the seat vacated by the death of U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
As of Dec. 23, Brown, who commutes 35 miles to the State House, pocketed his $26-per-day travel allotment on 136 occasions in 2009 - for a total of $3,536. That was on top of his $77,000 Senate salary...
That's it? He took about $3500 in allowances he was entitled to? In what way is this even a story? It's not. This is the definition of lame. John Fund takes a look at the race, here: The Dream Will Never Die - A GOP upset in Taxachusetts?. I will be voting for Brown and encourage others to do so, but am honest enough with myself to think the chances are not good. The Coakley vote is still the one that the average Bay Stater will go for as the "feel good, right-thinking" choice.
But...you never know. That's why we have elections.
Interestingly enough, the poll on the Newton Tab website shows Scott Brown with a slight lead. I realize these polls are hardly scientific, but it's interesting to see this result on the website of paper that ostensibly has a liberal readership.