Shop LocalThursday, April 7, 2011
“Every Dollar Counts” served as a campaign slogan for Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.
Were it not for a newspaper report, we wonder if that slogan would have applied to the more than $35,000 in tax funds Kinder spent for hotel costs in St. Louis.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed Sunday the statewide elected official had amassed a bill of $35,050 for 329 nights at hotels in St. Louis and St. Louis County since 2006.
Some of those hotel stays, the newspaper reported, occurred while Kinder attended sporting events, society galas and a tea party rally.
Kinder responded Tuesday by announcing he will use campaign funds to repay the state, as well as to rent a condominium there for future visits.
Characterizing himself as a “fiscal conservative,” Kinder called his plan to use campaign funds a “voluntary, example-setting, going-above-and-beyond-what’s-required effort.”
Such examples are persuasive when they are standard procedure, not a response to publicized revelations.
Kinder also said: “I do not want the slightest taint or suspicion to attach to my name or public service.”
Too late — damage already has been done.
The simple truth is government — federal, state and local — is at a point where every dollar does count.
The economy is struggling to rebound; unemployment remains high while people search for jobs; efforts to balance the budget mean elimination or cuts to education, health and mental health programs, and other government services.
Too many Missourians are hurting while Kinder slept comfortably at the Chase Park Plaza — at the typical discounted government rate of $119 a night, including tax.
We’ve chastised other government officials — Republicans and Democrats — for what we perceive to be a failure of fiscal accountability.
Whenever it happens, we are profoundly disappointed.
Comments
rock1853 2 years, 1 month ago
And where's the opinion on Claire McCaskill forgetting to pay $287k in taxes? Seems to me Kinder's lack of accountability isn't nearly as suspicious and tainted. Funny how "opinions" seem to be swayed against a political oponent...
fultonian 2 years, 1 month ago
I agree with rock, these "our opinion" articles are a completely biased and in "my opnion" an abuse of a media outlet's power by the fulton sun.
flirtmcgirt 2 years, 1 month ago
The staff at the Fulton Sun doesn't write these opinions, the Jefferson City News Tribune does.
rock1853 2 years, 1 month ago
I understand that but the Fulton Sun doens't seem to have problems publishing them do they.
flirtmcgirt 2 years, 1 month ago
Perhaps they don't have a choice, they do operate under the News Tribune after all.
fultonian 2 years, 1 month ago
well then the News Tribune shouldn't be writing our opinon articles that skew the public's view of political topics. Even if it IS their opinon it is still an abuse of power.
flirtmcgirt 2 years, 1 month ago
how so?
mizzoufan 2 years, 1 month ago
It's called an opinion page for a reason. Get over it. This practice has been occuring since before the American Revolution.
mizzoufan 2 years, 1 month ago
Kinders crooked, get him out at the next opportunity.
rock1853 2 years, 1 month ago
I don't know much about Kinder. Please inform / educate me. My opinion is still on term limits. If he is crooked them we get him out and bring back public humiliation. Throw'em in the headstock, protect his life, then throw rotten tomatoes. Show me his wrookedness and we will deal with it. McCaskill's crookedness seems much more news worthy. I like facts. I do appreciate the Sun's publishing other opinions. Love Thomas Sowell and such. Just saying that it seems funny to publish an infraction with hotel stays, but not have "an opinion" with four times that with breaking of the law? So he wasted tax money on rooms, but not pay your taxes (which is against the law) and not not put that in? Hmmm. Most reasonable people will see the twist. BTW she shouldn't pay taxes. Her jet? Let her alone!
Show me how Kinder is crooked and we will fix it.
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