"We've got to get our act together and stop spending money that we don't have."
--Michele Bachmann, 12/18/11, on Meet The Press
"Bachmann owes more than $1 million in presidential campaign debt" --Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 3/23/12
In
Part 1 of this continuing Cooked Books series, we looked at how
FEC Tony Sutton's MN GOP couldn't (wouldn't?) accurately report to the FEC how much they owed a vendor they hired to ensure accurate FEC reports. In
Part 2, we noted there are now 2 citizen watchdog groups looking into the MN GOP's Cooked Books --
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - which
nailed 'em last time (the MN GOP got smacked with a near-record $170,000 fine), and
Common Cause MN. In
Part 3, we looked at how a payroll deductions "no, NO!" that got the MN GOP in trouble last time seems to be a pattern. In
Part 4 we looked at the MN GOP using a strange address for one of it's fundraisers.
In Part 5 we looked at at the official FEC Complaint - filed 12 Jan 2012 - by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ("CREW"). In Part 6 we looked at the MN GOP misrepresenting their expenses. In Part 7 we looked at how the MN GOP categorized pay for a guy that they very well may have been paying to run for state senate - Lakeville's Dave Thompson in SD-36. In Part 8 we looked at at a MN GOP Campaign Finance Report line item that begs the question: did the State GOP pay for a lawyer for a State Representative's drunk driving case?
And yes, it sure looks like the Mn GOP paid a lawyer for a State Rep's cruise through the ditch with an open bottle of vodka.
Today in Part 9 of the continuing Cooked Books Series we're going to take a look at a MN GOP Campaign Finance Report line item that looks mighty clear: when it comes to paying rent, these Republicans are deadbeats -- let's look!
(link here to FEC.gov page)
OK, what's that say in the screenshot, since the image is a little small?
Debtor = "Hub Property Trust" Amount = "$58,117.22" Nature Of Debt = "Rent"
That's from Schedule D, Line 10 of FEC Form 3X, filed by the GOP on 20 March 2012 - their most recent filing.
So, what did the Party Of Fiscal Responsibility owe their Landlord, say, just a year ago? Let's look!
.
Debtor = "Hub Property Trust" Amount = "$14,461.60" Nature Of Debt = "Office Rent"
That's from Schedule D, Line 10 of FEC Form 3X, filed by the GOP on 24 March 2011.
What did they owe their Landlord, say, two years ago? $12,473.77
So what their own books show, is they've been stiffing their Landlord for a while.
But what were State Republicans saying, all over the state, all last year? "You can't spend more money than is in your check book!!!"
Well, maybe YOU can't, but: THEY sure do!!!
What I'd like to know, is how do they get away with it? Just ask yourself, Gentle Readers, what YOUR landlord would be saying if you've been stiffin' him for 2 years (and the balance keeps getting bigger!)
We know what would happen if it wasn't "rent" payments but rather "mortgage" payments.
So, how is it that the Minnesota GOP - the self-proclaimed "Party Of Fiscal Responsibility" - gets away with stiffing their Landlord for office rent for so long?
Stay tuned!!!
And in the meantime, remember: You Couldn't Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can't Now, And Tomorrow Won't Be Any Different.