Two sources have now told me that the July 4 fireworks show at the Saline County Fairgrounds will be paid at least in part with state taxpayer money funneled from the $1 million in General Improvement Funds divvied up by Republican Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson.
So far, Hutchinson and the Tea Party and other Saline Republicans promoting this fireworks show are not responding to my questions. Gary Webb, a member of the Fairgrounds Association, said the Fairgrounds is providing the venue, but it was his understanding the fireworks themselves were being paid by a grant. He referred questions to Benton Alderman Kerry Murphy, who didn't respond to phone and e-mail requests. Webb, by the way, is not one of the two people who told me Hutchinson GIF money is slated to pay for the explosives.
What would be wrong with this patriotic celebration?
See the full e-mail on the jump from Ed Hairston of the Benton Tea Party, who also hasn't responded to questions.
It says the Tea Party, Hutchinson and the Saline County Republican Committee are "co-sponsors" of the event. He wrote:
Kerry needs help with the flyers. If you can help with parking cars, wear your Tea Party T-Shirts, we will be also handing out copies of The Constitution and our business cards.
So what?
The Tea Party, you might have heard, has been mighty particular about spending of government money. It doesn't, among others, want to spend tax dollars on covering health care for sick poor people. Is it OK to spend tax money on a fireworks show? The Tea Party, in fact, is on record as critical of the pork barrel spending known as General Improvement Funds. Tangentially, directing of this surplus money to pet projects (rather than say tax cuts) — even if laundered through a regional plannning district and a local government — certainly would seem to fly in the face of the big Mike Wilson lawsuit aimed at stopping such special legislation.
I think there's potentially a question, too, about spending tax money to promote partisan political activity, if that's what's occurred.
Words come to mind. Irony. Hypocrisy.
Jeremy Hutchinson's personal, financial and ethical miscues have piled high. Before it's over — even by enlisting Tea Party support by giving them co-sponsorship of a taxpayer-financed fireworks show — can he really stand for re-election next year? Republican Rep. Ann Clemmer has announced her plans to run for the seat.
That number, Jeremy, is 375-2985. Or maxbrantley@arktimes.com
EMAIL PROVIDED BY A SOURCE
From: Ed Hairston
Date: July 1, 2013, 8:37:49 AM CDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: July 4th Fireworks - I need help with putting out Flyers this week and parking cars on July 4th
Saline County Tea Party, State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson ans Saline County Republican Committee are co-sponsors of this event, Kerry needs help with the flyers. If you can help with parking cars, wear your Tea Party T-Shirts, we will be also handing out copies of The Constitution and our business cards. if you need a T-Shirt email / phone me with size you need.
Ed
Subject: July 4th Fireworks - I need help with putting out Flyers this week and parking cars on July 4th
Hi everyone this is the fireworks flyer to post on facebook and send
to all your friends. We will be shooting the fireworks on July 4th
starting at 9pm. They will be shot from the Saline County
Fairgrounds. The radio station KEWI 690am will play patriotic music
from 8:30pm to 9:15pm. To get a good parking spot on the fairgrounds
you need to be there by 8:30pm. We have $8,700 to shoot off and it
should be a great show.
I need help handing out the flyers around town inviting people to
come. Tammy Schmidt will have the flyers on Monday. You can call her
at 501-515-088 and she will give you some flyers.
I also need to get help parking cars on July 4th at the Fairgrounds.
Show up around 7:30pm and stay till9:30pm. Please email me at
kerrymurphy13@gmail.com if you can help park cars.
Kerry Murphy
Secretary
Saline County Republican Committee
501-580-3737
www.salinegop.org