So what's it worth to have hotel rooms in Paris with the right amenities -- and no construction out front?
It turns out the figure is more than $4,100. That's how much the state paid in May – albeit primarily from an account funded by private donations, not taxpayers – to cancel the reservations for Gov. Jan Brewer and two of her aides when they concluded, after checking in, that the Best Western Premier Opera Diamond just wouldn't do.
The governor was in Paris as part of a two-week trade mission.
That occurred on the heels of the Legislature adopting -- and Brewer signing -- a package of changes in tax laws aimed at spurring economic development. Gubernatorial press aide Matthew Benson said his boss wanted to bring that message to European businesses herself.
But that doesn't come cheap.
There was the $6,400 cost for business-class round-trip tickets to London, as least for Brewer and Eileen Klein, her chief of staff. Kim Sabow, who handles many of the details for the governor on the ground, though, was stuck in coach.
There also were charges for intra-European airfares and meals. And the costs -- not counting rooms in Germany, which were picked up by the Arizona Commerce Authority – add up to $28,000.
But then there's that $4,100 cancellation fee.
“That was a beautiful hotel,'' Benson said. “But it was a European boutique hotel that was not in a suitable location for a business delegation of this sort.''
So Brewer and crew packed up and moved to the Marriott.
Benson said part of the problem was there was construction out front, creating a noisy environment. But that was not the sole issue.
“We're talking about a small boutique hotel that didn't have the kind of amenities needed for a business trip of this sort,'' he said.
So who booked that hotel in the first place? Benson said he does not know.
“And I probably wouldn't tell you the answer to that if I did,'' he said.
That $4,100, Benson said, reflects the cost of three rooms for two nights: One night because the governor and entourage had already checked in before they decided to go elsewhere, and one night's penalty.
He said while the cost was picked up by Brewer's office, it was not with taxpayer dollars. Benson said Brewer, like other governors, accepts private donations which can be used for things that perhaps should not come out of tax dollars, like gifts to visiting dignitaries and some travel expenses.
With the hotel bill paid, Benson said that leaves close to $12,300 in that account.
The cost of the Marriott, at more than $500 a night for each of the travelers, though, was picked up by the taxpayers.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:02 pm on Tue, Sep 18, 2012.
Howie Fischer,
GIVE IT A BREAK.............CAN'T YOU FOR ONCE LEAVE YOUR .."ANTI-SB 1070 VENDETTA"....BACK IN YOUR CLOSET AT HOME WHERE IT BELONGS.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLITICIANS ..."BLOWING THE TAX-PAYER'S MONEY"..............HOW ABOUT OBAMA FLYING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY EVER SINGLE MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY GIVING SPEECHES THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT OR LISTENS TOO....AND IT COSTS THE TAX-PAYERS ....$180,000.00 FOR EVER SINGLE HOUR THAT AIR FORCE ONE IS IN THE AIR.
AND WHAT ABOUT ........MICHELLE OBAMA'S ....MILLION DOLLAR VACATIONS TO SPAIN AND ASPEN AND THE HAMPTONS ...YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT ???
bubba posted at 8:21 pm on Tue, Sep 18, 2012.
Leon Ceniceros ...Maybe you should start breaking those Prozacs in half.
bubba posted at 8:24 pm on Tue, Sep 18, 2012.
I wonder what Gin Jan's bar tab was.
soricobob posted at 4:39 am on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
Dear Governor Brewer, If you wish to find out about a hotel before you arrive you might want to consider visiting Expedia (or another website), and you'll see if it's in a business area or a cute little boutique hotel, that way you won't be so inconvenienced.
phxvato1202 posted at 8:49 am on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
@Leon Ceniceros--If anyone should give it a break it's you idiota. You are the true racists with the hate you have for the obama's because they are black. You write letters to the editor and to the vent and you do more than you accuse Howie Fischer of doing. Your a moron and bubba is right you need to cut down or maybe in your case up the amount because all you ever do is spout hate and it appears to be against a president because he is black. But then in all your past spouts you have a problem with everyone and anyone that is not like you. But then who would want to be an idiota and a pend ejo like you?
daveofthedesert posted at 8:52 am on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
I don't think the Drunken Ho would have cared if she had a cot in the parking lot as long as she had a cheap bottle of gin. By the way, where is ALL that business from her China trip. The sloshed ho probably never left the bar.
Bingo6 posted at 10:57 am on Wed, Sep 19, 2012.
Hey Jan baby. when you finally break out on if the 47% would you take the EVT'S token racist and you best drinking buddy. Leon with you.
Deddzone posted at 10:34 am on Thu, Sep 20, 2012.
Brewer has wasted a lot of tax money! What wasthe point of "Paris in the Spring" trip? It provided nothing to the state!
jezzabella posted at 2:23 pm on Thu, Sep 20, 2012.
Poor Leon Ceniceros. You must have been puking sick the 77 times Bush flew to his ranch. Who was listening to him there? And Michelle Obama has been WORKING for zero pay to help our soldiers families and improve the lives of children. Your rage is pretty obvious. Let me guess. High school graduate and proud OF it.