Gore visit likely to cost taxpayers

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000 | 10:49 a.m.

Vice President Al Gore tried to sway local voters during a presidential campaign stop in Las Vegas, but when he left, those same voters were stuck with the bill.

At least 30 Metro Police officers earned about $11,000 to $13,000 in overtime pay while assisting the Secret Service in providing security during Gore's visit to the Las Vegas Valley Monday.

Metro will send a bill, but the expectations for recouping the money is low.

"I know they are not going to pay it. They never pay it," said Lois Willis, Metro's comptroller. "We'll send the bill because the taxpayers didn't anticipate presidential candidate visits."

After the bill is not paid, Willis will have to write off the expense as a loss.

"The vice president is afforded protection whether it's his son's football game or an official state dinner," said Maria Meier, a spokeswoman for the Gore presidential campaign. "The (Democratic National Committee) does not pay for security costs. The vice president doesn't make decisions on security, that is left up to the Secret Service and the local police forces to determine what is required."

And it's up to the local police departments to pick up the tab for the costs of their officers, which is nothing new for Metro. Fund-raising and campaign visits by President Clinton in the last three years have cost the taxpayers about $125,000 from Metro's budget. Metro only bills when the president, vice president or other officials come to town for campaign or fund-raising visits.

"It's our obligation to help provide security regardless of the reason of the visit, and we will always provide assistance," said Sgt. Christopher Darcy, a Metro spokesman.

However, the federal government will be getting a check from the vice president's campaign for the use of Air Force Two, said Jim Kennedy, a spokesman for the Office of the Vice President.

Metro has sent bills to the DNC when the president came to the area for fund-raising or campaign visits, but the DNC has made it clear the bills will not be paid.

"Regardless of the purpose of the president's travel, however, whether it be for official, political or personal purpose, it is the position of the U.S. government that the president should be provided security at the government expense around the clock," Joseph Sandler, a DNC attorney, wrote in a letter to Metro in June 1999 to explain why the department would not be getting money for security costs.

That letter was in response to Metro's request for $25,220.50 in overtime costs for a presidential visit. President Clinton also was in Las Vegas in April for a fund-raising event that made about $400,000 for the Democrats, but cost Clark County taxpayers about $35,000 in security costs.

If Texas Gov. George W. Bush makes a campaign visit to Las Vegas, Metro will provide security, but the department also won't be paid for its efforts.

"We will follow the policy, which means (Metro) won't be paid," said Ryan Erwin, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party. "It's a bad policy for the taxpayers, but you can't expect one campaign to reimburse and the other one not."