Number
041005
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. DONOVAN, DUDZIK, BOHL AND MCGEE
Title
Substitute resolution requesting that certain political campaigns reimburse the City for expenditures relating to election activities during the 2004 Presidential Campaign.
Analysis
The resolution requests that the campaigns of President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator John F. Kerry reimburse the City for expenses incurred in connection with presidential election campaign activities on November 1, 2004. These funds will be used to reimburse the City for various costs associated with the election activities such as police activities, traffic and crowd control, fire and emergency ambulance service and cleanup activities.
Body
Whereas, On November 1, 2004, President George W. Bush visited Milwaukee to speak at a Presidential re-election campaign rally at the U.S. Cellular Arena following musical performances by The Oak Ridge Boys and Brooks & Dunn, and remarks by former Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson; and
Whereas, On November 1, 2004, U.S. Senator John F. Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, visited Milwaukee to speak at an outdoor Presidential election campaign rally near City Hall following a musical performance by Jon Bon Jovi; and
Whereas, For a total of 28 combined visits to the City by both President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry, the spouses of the candidates and the vice-presidential running mates and their respective spouses, the Milwaukee police department has provided 8,276 labor hours at a cost to the city of $214,656 for security and the provision of crowd and traffic control; and
Whereas, In addition, the Milwaukee fire department provided fire safety and EMS support and the Milwaukee Department of Public Works provided for the operation and maintenance of garbage trucks to act as barriers where the presidential candidates spoke and provided for the clean-up of city streets following the events; and
Whereas, It is projected that the election campaigns of President George W. Bush and challenger U.S. Senator John F. Kerry will have spent a record $1 billion during the 2004 Presidential Election Campaign; and
Whereas, Although federal election regulations do not require campaigns to reimburse municipalities for security during campaign visits, the unprecedented simultaneous visits of 2 leading presidential candidates the day before the holding of a highly contested election excessively burdens the city of Milwaukee with thousands of dollars in overtime costs for police, paramedics and street crews; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council authorizes and directs the affected city departments to submit bills to the election campaigns of President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator John F. Kerry to reimburse the City for expenses incurred in connection with presidential election campaign activities held in the city of Milwaukee on November 1, 2004.
Drafter
LRB04444-3
RGP
11/09/04