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Dick Lugar improperly billed for hotel stays

Dick Lugar improperly billed for hotel stays

Dick Lugar has a lot of campaign money.

But he has problems.  In a Tea Party age he is a paradigm of insider Washington politics gone bad (for conservatives).  He has a questionable residence in Indiana, and his local election board even said he couldn’t vote because he had no home in the district (in fairness, the board Dems voted against him, but the facts are the facts).

And Lugar has a challenger in Richard Mourdock who has won twice statewide and has broad support.

Now this, via The Fix,

Indiana Republican Sen. Dick Lugar will reimburse the government for improperly billing taxpayers for hotel stays in Indianapolis in recent years.

Congressional rules allow Lugar to bill taxpayers for Indianapolis hotel stays when the Senate is in session. But he erroneously used taxpayer money for hotel trips to his home state during adjournments, and after an inquiry from Politico, is reimbursing the Treasury $4,500.

The controversy only added to Lugar’s electoral woes — handing his primary opponent, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, another chance to remind voters that their senator doesn’t actually live in the state in advance of the May 8 vote.

On March 15, an elections board ruled that Lugar could not continue to vote from the Indianapolis home he sold in 1977, forcing the senator to register elsewhere in the state. Lugar is appealing the decision.

A wise guy once said, Retire Richard Lugar, Elect Richard Mourdock.

You can support Mourdock here.  This is a real opportunity, folks.

Not convinced yet?

And just this morning, Lugar got the one of the least helpful endorsements possible. Former Republican-turned-Democratic Sen Arlen Specter, loathed by conservatives for switching parties, encouraged CSPAN viewers to “vote for Dick Lugar”.

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Comments

Mourdock picked up the endorsement of Indiana Right to Life PAC today as well. Lugar really wanted that endorsement. Of course he wanted the NRA endorsement that Mourdock got also.

MaggotAtBroadAndWall | March 22, 2012 at 6:58 pm

I’m sick of dinosaurs who refuse to retire. He’s 80 years old and has served honorably since the 1970s. It’s time for Lugar to spend more time with the grandkids so new, young blood that has not yet been corrupted by the process can serve.

Thanks, Arlen, for trying to help make that happen.

A wise guy once said, Retire Richard Lugar …

Exactly so … “You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately … Depart, I say; and let us have done with you.” ~ O. Cromwell, 1653

moonstone716 | March 22, 2012 at 7:39 pm

Where is our counterpart to Politico? I have a full time job but would gladly do any kind of research I could to check Democrats’ hotel bills, etc. using public records.

A Specter endorsement pretty much ought to cement his retirement.

“He has a questionable residence in Indiana”

There is no question about it.

He sold his house in 1977 and moved to Virginia. In 35 years he has done absolutely nothing to establish or maintain even a pretense of residence in Indiana.

I think after 35 years of non-residence its safe for a reporter to definitively say something like, “Lugar, who has not been a resident of Indiana for 35 years, …”

Seriously, Dick…now is not the time for house-hunting in Indiana.

Take the lil’ bungalow in Florida, and a long rest.

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StrangernFiction | March 22, 2012 at 9:38 pm

Lisa Murkowski’s lifetime rating with the National Taxpayer’s Union = 66.

Dick Lugar’s average rating over the same period = 68.

Lugar is one of the worst GOP critters out there.

Obviously another poster boy example for term limits.

They all go bad eventually…

I watched Specter on CSPAN’s Washington Journal this morning, apparently he believes anyone in the Republican party who isn’t like Arlen Specter is far-right splinter group.

What an idiot!

Normally I give the moderate/conservative incumbents some latitude because they are always with us on “party line” votes “whipped” by the leadership. Lugar has been particularly arrogant about his privileges of seniority, though.

I wouldn’t have replaced Bennett for his vote against TARP even though I think Lee is a better Senator. I didn’t think his sins were so great as the penalty. But Lugar is just begging for it, almost challenging the conservative base he rose from. What a complete jerk.

Does he have an Indiana Driver’s License? If so, what’s the address listed on it. If not, how can he even vote in the state under the Voter ID law?

[…] Him Back Home Again to Indiana! Posted on March 23, 2012 11:30 am by Bill Quick » Dick Lugar improperly billed for hotel stays – Le·gal In·sur·rec&… Not convinced yet? And just this morning, Lugar got the one of the least helpful endorsements […]

As a young man growing up in Indy when Lugar (Indpls. mayor) ran against Dem Vance Hartke for Senate, he (Lugar) was a champion Conservative and many thought he could someday become President. Something in the water in DC is eventually turning good decent people into liberals.

Can you say “Term Limits”. Repeat after me “Term Limits”.