GOP Congressman Blames His Spending On Obama

Kansas Republican Congressman Todd Tiahrt increased his office spending to more than $1 million “in a year when he was saying government needed to tighten its belt to get through the recession.”  (h/t The Political Carnival)

The increase included a 22 percent hike in personnel expenses, with a little more than half of the $196,000 increase going to five people who also worked on his Senate campaign.

Tiahrt spokesman Sam Sackett blamed President Obama for the increased spending.

He said the office fielded about 50 to 60 calls a day during the Bush administration from its largely conservative district, but is now up to 200.

“We saw that spike with the election of President Obama,” Sackett told the newspaper. “We had to employ a number of people to answer phone calls.”

Tiahrt is in a tight primary race with Congressman Jerry Moran for the Republican nomination to replace Senator Sam Brownback.

A little more than half of the $196,000 of Tiahrt’s increased staffing cost went to five people who also got salary and/or expense reimbursements for working on Tiahrt’s Senate campaign, election disclosure forms show.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.