Mr. Bettencourt, Show Us the Money! It’s a Matter of Principal

 As a recent arrival in the great Granite State, I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to some recent events. A political science major, government observer and historian-in-training, I am eager to learn about the inner workings of this historic state and to do my part as a new citizen.

  Having observed the political scene for more than 30 years, I believed I had seen it all. I watched in amazement as the current administration in Washington sent a half billion taxpayer dollars to a profitless, poster-company for the solar power movement, promptly losing all memory of the process, who was involved and what happened to the money. The only clear memory shared by Democrat appointees was that the President had nothing to do with it.

 I watched in disbelief as the same President chuckled about the billions of taxpayer dollars shoveled into shovel-ready projects that really weren’t shovel-ready, with not as much as a sideways glance from Democrat politicians who normally savor a good investigation.

 I waited for a simple raised eyebrow at the billions of taxpayer dollars funneled into Democrat support organizations such as unions, who give the cash a quick scrub and send it on its way back to the party’s campaign coffers. Not an eyebrow moved.

 The primary response from these Democrats has been, “We need more taxpayer dollars,” and I don’t doubt it. This lost money has to be replaced, and where else is it going to come from?

 And yet, despite a healthy skepticism born of many years observing politics, I was truly proud of my new home state when I read about a Democrat supporter’s dogged efforts to thwart Representative Bettencourt’s nefarious plot to raid the State treasury by driving back and forth to Concord.

 I repeat, Mr. Bettencourt, show us the money!

 Granted, when you take the reimbursement money and deduct gas, insurance, maintenance and repair costs, there probably isn’t much left, but don’t try to trivialize this issue. It’s a matter of principles, and I know the Democrat Party always stands by its principals.

 We can never ask the Democrat party to abandon its principals. It didn’t in the Solyndra affair, or the shovel-ready fiasco or the union money-laundering project.  We just can’t ask them to look the other way in a matter of this importance.

  In an effort to break what is a clear deadlock between the House legal counsel and the State Employees Association, I offer the following suggestion: Let’s send Mr. Bettencourt some paper coin wrappers, so he can put the quarters, dimes and nickels from his mileage reimbursement in the proper wrappers, and spread the money out on a table during a televised news conference. The citizens of New Hampshire deserve no less. Mr. Bettencourt, show us the money!