Dem lawmaker rips Trump’s taxpayer spending on Tax Day
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) took to Twitter on Tax Day to slam President Trump and “his cronies” for a series of controversial spending scandals.
“It’s Bigly Swampy in the Trump Administration,” Gallego tweeted Tuesday. “Someone has to pay for all those private jets and expensive hotels. Bad news — it’s on YOU, the American taxpayer.”
It’s Bigly Swampy in the Trump Administration. Someone has to pay for all of those private jets and expensive hotels. Bad news – it’s on YOU, the American taxpayer. In honor of #TaxDay, here’s just a few of the things Trump and his cronies are spending your money on:
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) April 17, 2018
{mosads}Gallego first went after Trump’s time spent on the golf course.
On Friday, Gallego released a letter on the Trump administration spending with other Democratic Reps. Ted Lieu (Calif.), Jamie Raskin (Md.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Brendan Boyle (Pa.). The letter states that Trump has reportedly spent $58,752,183 so far on travel and security for 95 trips to golf clubs, including multiple Trump-owned properties.
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) April 17, 2018
Between January 2017 and October, the Secret Service spent $137,505 on golf carts, Gallego’s swamp graphic says.
The Democrat also took a swing at Trump’s sons for spending more than $190,000 on taxpayer-funded security traveling for business during the first three months of 2017, as reported by The Daily Mail last April.
Gallego then went after members of Trump’s Cabinet, who have been riddled with controversial spending scandals.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke reportedly spent $139,000 renovating office doors.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spent nearly $1 million flying on seven trips in military aircraft, according to a watchdog report.
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) April 17, 2018
Last year, it was reported that former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price cost taxpayers more than $500,000 using military aircrafts for several trips. Price resigned in September after an uproar of his expensive travel. He was replaced by current Secretary Alex Azar in January.
Earlier this month, it was reported that former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had spent about $12 million on private consultants to help the agency through Tillerson’s “redesign.”
Gallego also mentioned Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, who has recently also come under fire for a series of reports on his costly spending.
Pruitt spent $105,000 flying in first class during his initial year in office.
“Pruitt: $43,000 on soundproof office phone booth PLUS $6,000 on biometric fingerprinting locks for the booth,” Gallego tweeted.
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) April 17, 2018
A report from the Government Accountability Office on Monday found that the “privacy booth” in Pruitt’s office suite was in violation of governmentwide spending law.
And on Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that Pruitt had cost the government $10,200 to lease a car for a year with bullet-resistant seat covers.
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