BC Times- Letter to the Editor

I recently had a Letter to the Editor published in the Beaver County Times, my hometown newspaper, on the subject of Inauguration Donations (something I've been defending for a while now.)

Check it out online (until they toss it in the "Pay to Read" archives) or read it below. If you still care to hear about this tired, and now meaningless, topic.

In response to Betty Hazlett's "Bad time for throwing a bash" letter in Sunday's paper:

The "information" she has is completely wrong. There has never been (in the modern history of inaugurations) taxpayer dollars spent to throw parties.

This is a common complaint made by the public, especially from members of the losing party, to make our re-elected president seem like a selfish fool (something he is most certainly not).

In actuality, the entire inauguration, including all of the fireworks, parades, parties, and events, is paid for by donors. Not one cent of taxpayer money goes to paying for the events, and in this inauguration the only taxpayer money even being used is Washington, D.C.'s homeland security money, already allocated for such events, to cover the increased security measures (something the city would be responsible for anyway).

In fact, it's no secret as to which corporations, businesses, groups and private citizens donate to the cause. The inauguration planning committee plans on raising $40 million to $50 million dollars for the event, and so far it is right on track. For a list of all the major donors (who can't donate more than $250,000), visit the Official Inauguration Donor Page on the Inauguration Web site.

So if these donors want to support the president they voted for, let them. It's not up to the president to use the contributions of others for something other than the intended cause.

And if people are going to gripe about the extra D.C. security money, just think of the complaints that might have arisen had there been a terror attack with no extra security around.

Michael T. Rubino
Monaca

(Published in the January 26th edition of the Beaver County Times)