Stratford Mayor Harkins Criticizes Spending on President Obama's Political Visit (Updated)

The following is a press release from the office of John A. Harkins, the Republican mayor of Stratford:

Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins is voicing his opposition to using taxpayer funds to pay for President Barrack Obama’s political visit to Stratford/Bridgeport on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

“The fact that the taxpayers in these communities visited by the President are on the hook is simply not right,” said Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins. “The Democrat party should pick up the tab for expenses incurred by the municipalities during the President’s stop for a “Get-Out-the-Vote” rally in Bridgeport. This will not be an official White House visit to our area. Taxpayer money should not be used to fund purely political events, regardless of party”

Costs to Stratford taxpayers alone are estimated at nearly $13,000 for the short political stop. It is simply incorrigible for taxpayers to be expected to pay for these types of expenses while families struggle to make ends meet in this economy.

Harkins also pointed out that the Town of Stratford agreed to provide additional municipal personnel for the President’s 2010 campaign visit to Stratford/Bridgeport after the Democrat State Central Committee agreed to reimburse the town for any expenses incurred during the campaign stop.

(Pictured: Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins via Facebook)

Updated: The White House has announced that President Obama canceled his planned trip to Connecticut and is holding an Ebola meeting with Cabinet.

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