Cash-strapped (State) governments spend big on Paris trip

[ensho]

http://news.yahoo.com/cash-strapped-governments-spend-big-paris-trip-162326079.html


As their cash-strapped governments slashed public programs and shed jobs, records show officials from at least 14 states jetted across the Atlantic in June to attend the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.

The annual summertime exposition in France is among the world's premier events for the aerospace industry, and officials in several states said the gathering offered a unique opportunity to recruit potential employers. However, a review of receipts obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request found no direct evidence the taxpayer money spent in Paris resulted in the creation of new jobs back home.

The sizable state delegations were often accompanied by officials from county and municipal economic development groups, which are typically also supported by taxpayer money. Officials in several states ran up tabs in the tens of thousands of dollars, and some states — including North Carolina, South Carolina and Mississippi — spent more than $100,000.

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Connecticut taxpayers spent about $88,500 for two staff members to host a booth at the show. Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer canceled plans to attend because of wildfires in her state, although three Commerce Authority officials still traveled at a cost of $14,716.

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snips tell how much various states paid and how they tried to downplay the costs

they all had a good old time partying

[Blue_Tires]

1. I'm surprised NC had such a presence there and VA didn't

especially since we opened up that huge Rolls-Royce plant a couple years back...