Byrd was caught throwing food at some of the other Senators and had to be taken to detention . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

why is the shifting of money from one group of people to another a "taxpayer expense"?

it is returned to "taxpayers"

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Do you believe every dollar that goes into the vacuous maw of the government springs forth, undiminished by it's passage through the bowels?

B

Ah, the rhetoric is blooming early this year . . .

Gimme money, a whole lotta spending money,

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123215275270792215.html

Lobbyists Find Detour Around Latest Ethics Rules
by BRODY MULLINS and ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON

Lobbyists and corporations have found an opening in the latest congressional-ethics law that allows them to pay for special access to lawmakers and members of the incoming Obama administration during next week's inaugural festivities.
President-elect Barack Obama was a vocal champion of rules enacted last year that prohibit companies and lobbyists from buying anything worth more than $10 for lawmakers. But well-heeled interests have found a way to circumvent the ban by partnering with "state societies" that are throwing parties to celebrate Mr. Obama's inauguration.

These Washington-based nonprofits, whose members include lawmakers, congressional aides, lobbyists and executives from a given state, aren't subject to the ethics law -- even though their social and charitable activities are paid for with corporate money.

Mr. Obama's home state of Illinois, for example, is holding its own inaugural ball on Monday, the night before Mr. Obama is sworn in. (Tonight, Tonight, I'll see my love tonight!) It is offering executives of Motorola Inc., Exelon Corp., and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association a chance to pay big money to dine and pose for photos with Illinois lawmakers and incoming Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who recently retired as congressman from the state. The price: $5,000 to $55,000, event organizers said.

Hawaii, Mr. Obama's birthplace, has invited companies and lobbyists who pay as much as $25,000 into a roped-off VIP lounge at its Tuesday night affair, where they can mingle with influential policy makers. Among the drawing cards: Hawaii Sen. Dan Inouye, the new chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Gen. Eric Shinseki, a Hawaiian tapped to lead the Veterans Affairs Department.

Takers so far include Lockheed Martin Corp., which gave $25,000 for access to the party. Jeff Adams, a spokesman for Lockheed, said: "I can confirm that Lockheed Martin is co-sponsoring some of the unofficial inaugural events."

Gen. Shinseki and Mr. LaHood canceled their appearances at the galas after The Wall Street Journal contacted the transition team about them. Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to comment on the balls.

State societies didn't seek an exemption to the ethics rules, but fall under exceptions that permit lawmakers to attend corporate-sponsored events if they are "widely attended" and considered part of a lawmaker's "official duty." Lawmakers also can accept free attendance at charitable events.

Most state-society members are residents who are living or working in Washington. The attendance of these home-state constituents qualifies lawmakers and the societies' events for ethics exemptions that permit companies to pick up the tab for food, drinks and entertainment. Tickets are free for members.

The ethics rules "don't affect us too much," said Mark Rhoads, a historian with the National Conference of State Societies, which represents all the state groups.

The inaugural balls can be boons to lawmakers. State societies bill their galas as celebrations of their elected leaders. The events also offer politicians a highly visible chance to mix with voters, corporate leaders and campaign donors. In all, more than two-dozen state societies are throwing inaugural balls paid for by corporations. Each sponsor gets access to members of Congress and state politicians through VIP rooms or smaller dinners beforehand.

"The bread and butter of being a sponsor is getting into that dinner, because certainly members of Congress are invited to that dinner," said Jenifer Sarver, historian for the Texas society.

The state balls aren't part of the formal inaugural celebrations. Mr. Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee is hosting 10 official balls on Jan. 20, paid for by a mix of private donations and government funds. Mr. Obama has banned donations from corporations and lobbyists.

The Illinois society gave more than a dozen companies and lobbying firms that paid as much as $55,000 the option to have dinner with an "honored guest" -- including No. 2 Senate Democrat Richard Durbin and other members of its congressional delegation -- "on a first-come, first-served basis." Mr. LaHood planned to speak at the event, before he canceled. Sen. Durbin has the ball on his schedule but, an aide said, "If he makes it there he's not going to spend more than a few minutes."

The American Road Transportation Builders sponsored the event for the "positive connections" and because one of its lobbyists sits on the Illinois society's board, said David Bauer, a senior vice president for government affairs for the group. "It could be perceived as something that it's not," meaning an effort to influence lawmakers, Mr. Bauer said.

A Motorola spokeswoman said that as an Illinois-based company and state-society member, the telecommunications-equipment maker has served as a sponsor since 1997. An Exelon spokesman said the energy company's sponsorship "is an extension of its commitment to the development of sound public policies concerning energy, the environment, and a number of other issues at the federal, state, and local levels."

The Jan. 19 sold-out Illinois event at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Hotel is one of next week's most elaborate balls. The society raised more than $1 million from corporate sponsors, quadruple its 2005 take.

Write to Brody Mullins at brody.mullins@wsj.com and Elizabeth Williamson at elizabeth.williamson@wsj.com

surely ,there are no wormholes.

but if you consider our trade deficit as the cause of that lost money.. I cannot justify that. I consider inflation more detrimental.

What percent do you imagine is lost in vacuo? - equate this to the inaugural ball.

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I do agree, however, that taxpayers pay tax on the movement on money and therefore taxed 'taxes' are the government's gains undoubtedly.

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This inauguration as well as many before it serves to remind us mere citizens of the vast chasm between the citizens and our rulers.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Dow down 250 points....

Are there any figures on how much revenue was generated with the mass influx of people? More than was spent I would imagine; if there were a million people you can bet there was more than $150 spent by each.

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1993 300E 2.8 185k miles
2006 Mustang Convertible 4.0 Eaton Supercharged

Who cares? I'm sure they can just print more to cover the expenses.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

which would mean they never actually paid the FULL bill.

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B. O. promised CHANGE.

He spent more $$$ on his inaugural bash than all predecessors.

See........things have CHANGED.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"