No one wants to foot V.P. visit bill

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by Nate Jenkins

A $31,900 bill for Vice President Dick Cheney's recent visit to Lincoln is languishing in City Hall  and appears likely to stay there.


Organizations including the U.S. Secret Service and the National Republican Congressional Committee said they don't want the bill and won't pay it. The city's Washington lobbyist, Carolyn Chaney, got a similar answer Tuesday from the Department of Homeland Security.


She was asked by Mayor Coleen Seng's office to pursue the issue.
"We haven't decided on what to do next," said Mark Bowen, Seng's chief of staff.

Bowen said Monday the city would seek repayment of the $31,900 incurred by such things as paying for Lincoln Police officers who helped provide security for Cheney during his visit to Lincoln Friday.


The vice president, a native of Lincoln, came to town to raise money for Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican seeking to replace outgoing Rep. Doug Bereuter, R-1st District.


The city wants reimbursement, Bowen said, because Cheney's visit was for a political campaign and cost to the public was extensive.


Fortenberry could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but  campaign manager Jessica Moenning said the Fortenberry camp has no plans to pay the $31,900. The campaign has pledged to pay $15,000 to help cover costs of Cheney's trip to Lincoln on Air Force Two.


Under Federal Election Commission rules, according to FEC spokesman Ian Stirton, candidates such as Fortenberry are required to pay air fare for political staff who accompany elected officials to fund-raisers.


An official in Cheney's office referred questions about the city's request for reimbursement to the National Republican Congressional Committee. Bo Harmon, spokesman for the committee, said questions about whether such costs should be covered by taxpayers, campaigns or federal agencies are not uncommon, and have a clear answer.


"To my understanding, there has not been an instance where a local government was reimbursed," Harmon said. "There's been a pretty clear precedent established … about who covers the tab."


Federal officials, namely the Secret Service, largely dictated the amount of that tab.


Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady said decisions about local police staffing and security were made by the Secret Service, not the local police department, which put 60 additional officers on duty Friday.


Casady said neither he nor employees in his department could recall a case where reimbursement for additional police protection was requested following a visit from a government dignitary.


Payment is pursued, for example, when musical performers request additional police security. If additional security is needed for a performance, but not requested, the cost is paid by the city.


Ann Roman, spokeswoman for the Secret Service, said the agency charged with protecting Cheney isn't "equipped or funded" to reimburse cities.
"The Secret Service has always relied heavily upon … law enforcement partners," Roman said. "This is the first time I've ever gotten a question like this."


The city of Spokane, Wash., asked the Secret Service, the GOP national committee and a political campaign the same question in 1986. According to a report last week in the newspaper that covers that city, The Spokesman-Review, officials there requested and were denied reimbursement of $30,000 following President Ronald Reagan's fund-raising visit.


 The day before Cheney was in Lincoln, Spokane played host to President Bush, who was there to raise money for Republican Senate candidate George Nethercutt.


This time around, the city doesn't plan to make the same request it did in 1986.
"It's something we're accepting as the course of business and part of the honor of having the president come to our community," city spokeswoman Marlene Feist said.


Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@journalstar.com