Posted: Monday, February 6, 2012 3:11 pm | Updated: 7:57 am, Wed Feb 8, 2012.
Associated Press
DENVER | A suburban Denver sheriff says he's going to start sending political campaigns the tab when roads have to be closed, traffic directed and deputies put on overtime.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson, a Republican, said he would send GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney a bill between $5,000 and $6,000 for "extraordinary" local security costs at a Romney rally planned for Centennial Monday afternoon.
"I don't think it's appropriate for taxpayers to pay for a political campaign," Robinson said Monday.
For the county, law enforcement agencies shelling out big bucks to provide campaign security is the downside of being a prized area for political candidates.
Arapahoe is a vote-rich swing county south and east of Denver. Republicans outnumber Democrats among its 235,000 or so active registered voters, but Democrats have had increasing success here in recent years.
So I wonder who is picking up the tab for President Obama's travel around the country "campaigning"? Who is paying for that security? Can we park Air Force One and start saving some real money? Are they spending $6K on fuel each day when they fly around the country?
I'm with you JMC...politicians should pay their own way. And what's good for the goose ought to be good for the gander.
Robinson concedes that his candidate billing is largely symbolic. In 2010, Robinson sent U.S. Senate campaigns bills for security. But Robinson says that neither Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet nor his unsuccessful Republican challenger, Ken Buck, ever paid the bills.
Robinson said he's heard from cash-strapped sheriff departments in other counties and states, but doesn't know of any local force that's been paid for providing security for a politician's visit. He insisted that security plans wouldn't change if candidates start paying.
