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In reply to the discussion: Christie Crime Digest Volume III [View all]Laxman
(2,419 posts)35. In Our Latest Episode Of "Chris Christie-Fiscal Conservative".....
we find our hero running up big catering bills at sporting events on the taxpayers' dime. When you nave friends like Jerry Jones, you have to treat them right-know what I mean? The fact that our struggling local food bank could probably have been permanently endowed with this amount of money is enough reason for outrage in and of itself.
Christie buys $300K of food & booze with NJ expense account
Chris Christies expense account tells a story of appetite and ambition, one that pits government waste against the New Jersey governors waistline.
Christie spent $360,000 from his state allowance during his five years in office. More than 80 percent of that money, or $300,000, was used to buy food, alcohol and desserts, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of records released by the governors office.
In addition to his $175,000 a year salary, the governor receives $95,000 a year in expense advances, paid quarterly by the state. In the state budget, it is listed as an allowance of funds not otherwise appropriated and used for official receptions on behalf of the state, the operation of an official residence, for other expenses.
While Christie returns surplus funds to the state each year, Treasury officials say he does not submit receipts or accounting for the public monies he spends. The governors ledger, obtained from Christie under the Open Public Records Act, offers a rare, if partial glimpse of a controversial expense account shrouded in secrecy.
Christies most notable spending spree occurred during the 2010 and 2011 NFL football seasons at MetLife Stadium, where the New Yorks Giants and Jets play their home games. New Jerseys governor traditionally enjoys free use of luxury boxes for games and other events at the government-owned venue, but food and beverages cost extra.
On 58 occasions, Christie used a debit card to pay a total of $82,594 to Delaware North Sportservice, which operates the concessions at MetLife. The governors office did not provide any receipts, business reasons or names of individuals entertained, but defended the expense.
The official nature and business purpose of the event remains the case regardless of whether the event is at the State House, Drumthwacket or a sporting venue, said Christies press secretary Kevin Roberts in a prepared statement.
To avoid a potential scandal that could embarrass their rising political star, the New Jersey Republican State Committee reimbursed the Treasury in March 2012 for Christies purchases from DNS Sports. Since then, the governor has refrained from using his expense account at MetLife and other sports venues.
Meanwhile, Christie found other ways to enjoy the allowance.
The governor used it to buy $102,495 worth of groceries and alcoholic beverages from retail stores. Its not clear from records whether the goods stocked the pantries and filled the refrigerators at Drumthwacket, the governors official mansion in Princeton, or the Mendham house where Christie and his family live. The store addresses were not disclosed.
Christie did most of his serious food shopping at Wegmans Food Markets, where he spent $76,373 during 53 shopping runs. He patronized ShopRite supermarkets 51 times for $11,971 in purchases plus another $6,536 in seven visits to ShopRites liquor stores.
Chris Christies expense account tells a story of appetite and ambition, one that pits government waste against the New Jersey governors waistline.
Christie spent $360,000 from his state allowance during his five years in office. More than 80 percent of that money, or $300,000, was used to buy food, alcohol and desserts, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of records released by the governors office.
In addition to his $175,000 a year salary, the governor receives $95,000 a year in expense advances, paid quarterly by the state. In the state budget, it is listed as an allowance of funds not otherwise appropriated and used for official receptions on behalf of the state, the operation of an official residence, for other expenses.
While Christie returns surplus funds to the state each year, Treasury officials say he does not submit receipts or accounting for the public monies he spends. The governors ledger, obtained from Christie under the Open Public Records Act, offers a rare, if partial glimpse of a controversial expense account shrouded in secrecy.
Christies most notable spending spree occurred during the 2010 and 2011 NFL football seasons at MetLife Stadium, where the New Yorks Giants and Jets play their home games. New Jerseys governor traditionally enjoys free use of luxury boxes for games and other events at the government-owned venue, but food and beverages cost extra.
On 58 occasions, Christie used a debit card to pay a total of $82,594 to Delaware North Sportservice, which operates the concessions at MetLife. The governors office did not provide any receipts, business reasons or names of individuals entertained, but defended the expense.
The official nature and business purpose of the event remains the case regardless of whether the event is at the State House, Drumthwacket or a sporting venue, said Christies press secretary Kevin Roberts in a prepared statement.
To avoid a potential scandal that could embarrass their rising political star, the New Jersey Republican State Committee reimbursed the Treasury in March 2012 for Christies purchases from DNS Sports. Since then, the governor has refrained from using his expense account at MetLife and other sports venues.
Meanwhile, Christie found other ways to enjoy the allowance.
The governor used it to buy $102,495 worth of groceries and alcoholic beverages from retail stores. Its not clear from records whether the goods stocked the pantries and filled the refrigerators at Drumthwacket, the governors official mansion in Princeton, or the Mendham house where Christie and his family live. The store addresses were not disclosed.
Christie did most of his serious food shopping at Wegmans Food Markets, where he spent $76,373 during 53 shopping runs. He patronized ShopRite supermarkets 51 times for $11,971 in purchases plus another $6,536 in seven visits to ShopRites liquor stores.
read the rest here: http://watchdog.org/217942/christie-nj-expense-account/
I love Wegman's too but I do pay my own way. Shop-Rite Liquor? If I knew that I was footing a part of the bill the last time I saw his demented-looking wife in there I'd have grabbed a six-pack or a bottle of wine out of her full shopping cart.
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I know what you mean.. There's been so much illegality in the christie admin and from christie
Cha
May 2015
#9
my first thought when I saw skinny Wildstein was "the people behind Christie radiation poisoned him"
Backwoodsrider
May 2015
#33
Also known as "Christie's Forty-Seven-Percent-Moment" (Good-natured jabs, my donkey)
rocktivity
May 2015
#50
Is Christie's publicly-financed self-exonerating Mastro report about to come back to haunt him?
rocktivity
Jun 2015
#56
You rock Laxman!!! While the non-memories of "Fitzmas" still hurt, I think this is different...
winstars
Jun 2015
#61
I have said all along, he will never get convicted of any crime. He seems to let others....
Logical
Jun 2015
#73
Christie's latest power failure: Another storm, another self-serving response
rocktivity
Jun 2015
#80
UPDATE: (Hillary Supporter) Jon Bon Jovi Says He Gave (Hillary Opponent) Christie Permission
rocktivity
Jun 2015
#85
Christie Confirms Bruce Is Still His Fave NJ Musician, Gets Ovation From Bruce's Fans
rocktivity
Aug 2015
#98
He's Being Funded By A Tabloid? That Explains Why He's Started Talking Like One
rocktivity
Aug 2015
#99
Didn't Christie just fantasize about beating a woman and then serving her with a subpoena?
rocktivity
Feb 2016
#138