Democratic Party low on cash; Caucuses are too

The Kentucky Democratic Party has depleted its state account over the last six months.

The party showed $1,081 left over in its account after spending $127,194.71 since December, according to reports filed yesterday with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. It also has $162.84 left over from the $53,772 that tax payers designated to the party through income tax check-off boxes.

In comparison, the state Republican Party showed a combined $62,000 left in those two accounts.

Both state parties also have an account with Federal Election Commission that allows greater contribution limits than state rules. Updates on those accounts aren't due until next month.

The Senate Democratic Caucus, aimed at helping state senate candidates get elected, remained largely stagnant through the last six months, and it's balance remains at about $6,200, compared to the Republican Senate Caucus fund of nearly $36,400.

The report for the House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee showed more activity. It has $10,976.29 in the account after spending $24,679 in the last six months -- a period that didn't include any House elections. The caucus raised nearly $30,000 in that span, mostly from campaign committees of key House members.

Much of the money from the caucus was spent on hotel and restaurant costs, but most entries don't list the names of who made those purchases or participated in the meals.

Among the more detailed/interesting expenditures were:

• a $125 meal charged by political consultant Jennie Arnold for a "lunch with leadership and Steve Beshear" on May 31.
• a $115 charge to the Louisville Holiday Inn Express for a "coordinator lunch" on Feb. 8.
• $12,802.96 in mileage reimbursement to House Caucus Director Jonathan Hurst. At the current federal reimbursement rate of 48.5 cents-per-mile, that works out to be about 26,398 miles. UPDATE 2:51 p.m.: Hurst called to say that the mileage stemmed from his work during the 2006 election cycle that included all of the House races. He added that the reimbursement rate was 44 cents-per-mile, meaning that he travelled 29,097 miles last fall.
• a $30.21 charge to Mayan Gypsy in Louisville on Feb. 8 for a "candidate recruitment meal."

- Ryan Alessi

Comments

What a crock. $12K for mileage? To Jonathan Hurst? Please.

Good luck, Chairman Miller. Clearly you have your work cut out for you. Perhaps this is why the KDP hasn't staffed up yet- No money for payroll!

Guuuuuurl, that money isn't for mileage! It's for Prada boots.

How on earth is it possible to spend $130K in such a short period of time? Payroll?

Wonder what ole Jerry would have done if one of his friends would have won the primary and he was still chair! Clearly he wouldn't have spent down all that money if he thought his stay was going to be extended. Perhaps they knew the good guys were going to win and wanted to leave the party with a zero balance. What a bunch of crooks!

[Beshear in November!]

Everyone knows that the Democratic Party is the leadership that Kentucky needs. We should have the legislature send some money to the party to give us a little padding. That way we'll be able to elect good Democrats so that we can clean up the crap that Republicans have done. They are awful about the way they spend our taxpayer money. They shouldn't have control of money, because they can't seem to control themselves. We need to teach them a lesson about fiscal responsibility.

Jennie Arnold is an assistant to the chair at KDP, not exactly a political consultant.

[Darrin Sears]

Some one needs to investigate this fraud.
If he drove teh speed limit 60mph and drove for 8 hour a day that equals 60*8=480 a week. Then 480*52 weeks= 24960. So all he does is drive ALL DAY LONG. This sounds fishy to me!!!!!

No, the miles were valid for travel in 2006. He came to my district the last week, 4 times, so I know he traveled alot.

The first 400,000 dollars raised for both parties will go to salaries. As a GOP person I have been very successful in business and I would be the Director for free. I am sure there are plenty of successful people that would be directors and volunteers for each party that would not cost anything. These positions are being used as golden parachutes for people each party wants to protect or turn into lobbyist. Ask McCarthy, this position is the minor league training station to become a high paid lobbyist. So anyway people donate what you want but understand that the first 400,000 dollars is going to salaries and operations. If you can live with that, that is your right

[Darrin Sears]

So he came to your district 4 times in a week. Drove 8 hours to you, worked then drove 8 hours back home? Then drove back the next day 8 hours then a 8 hour return. So he spent 16 hours driving a day is what you are saying?

yeah he drove to our district 4 times...

Jonathan Hurst traveling 26,398 miles during an entire year & during election cycles helping more than 30 candidates sounds like he's short-changing himself.

I can believe the miles, I am in sales and drive over 60,000 miles per year.

I can believe the miles, I am in sales and drive over 60,000 miles per year.

i agree-- this was a witch hunt trying to hurt him for standing up for us

HMMM, Could you expect less?

Maybe Jody R. won't be so eager to protect him now.
Oh yes . . . . WE WON THIS ONE JOHNATHAN!

“WE WON THIS ONE!” You remember that! Don't cha Jonathan?

Jim Anderson Stivers

[Tom]

Uh, no, 60 * 8 = 480 mile per day, so 480 * 5= 2400 miles per week and 2400 * 52 = 124,800 miles per year. A total mileage claim of 26,000+ miles for an entire year is neither absurd nor unusual. Many many people have jobs that require this much or more driving.

It's an interesting read--that Caucus report. It appears that there are numerous lodging expenses for the same payment date in multiple cities--in fact, one for lodging in Nashville and also in Cincinnati. The multiple payments on the same day for lodging, meals, etc., would look like reimbursements for a personal credit card. IMHO, I don't know if the caucus would have written a check to Quisnos for a meal but seriously doubt it. It would be intersting to see the actual check of that date 2/8 to see if it was made out to Hurst or to the individual hotels. Of course, if the check is payable to Hurst and the report lists the payments to the individual restaurants and hotels, could that be perceived as "fraud" on the registry report.

no the report has one list what the service is

no the report has one list what the service is

jODY'S TIME HAS COME AND GONE HE NEEDS TO STEP DOWN NOW.