Getting to work...
Former Congressman Rob Simmons is certainly getting out in front when it comes to his new job as the state's first-ever business advocate. He's been doing TV interviews and tomorrow (Wednesday) morning he'll headline a business breakfast meeting in New London. According to the press release, Simmons will talk about financial asssistance, job training, technical assistance and other programs available for busineeses in the state.
And despite his repeated statements claiming that if confirmed for the job, which he was last month, he would put all his energies into the new position, there remains quite a bit of speculation as to what his future plans are. That speculation no doubt was fueled a bit more with the filing of his most recent Federal Elections Commission's finance report. I expected to see Simmons file a termination report, ending his congressional campaign. But instead, he filed a normal quarterly report.
But there is a reason he did that instead of terminating his campaign committee, and it has nothing to do with a potential future run for elected office. It seems Simmons was forced to "loan" his committee $30,000 in January to cover costs and debt from last year's election and the continuation of the committee while job hunting. According to his filing, he raised enough money in the first quarter of the year to cover most of the debt and ongoing expenses, and repaid $20,000 of the $30,000 loan. But that leaves him with a $10,000 outstanding balance to be dealt with. Thus the reason for not terminating the committee. By continuing, he's able to continue raising money to pay off the debt (to himself).
But here's where it gets a bit sticky. Does he really want to be in fund-raising mode while running around being the newest state employee?
And despite his repeated statements claiming that if confirmed for the job, which he was last month, he would put all his energies into the new position, there remains quite a bit of speculation as to what his future plans are. That speculation no doubt was fueled a bit more with the filing of his most recent Federal Elections Commission's finance report. I expected to see Simmons file a termination report, ending his congressional campaign. But instead, he filed a normal quarterly report.
But there is a reason he did that instead of terminating his campaign committee, and it has nothing to do with a potential future run for elected office. It seems Simmons was forced to "loan" his committee $30,000 in January to cover costs and debt from last year's election and the continuation of the committee while job hunting. According to his filing, he raised enough money in the first quarter of the year to cover most of the debt and ongoing expenses, and repaid $20,000 of the $30,000 loan. But that leaves him with a $10,000 outstanding balance to be dealt with. Thus the reason for not terminating the committee. By continuing, he's able to continue raising money to pay off the debt (to himself).
But here's where it gets a bit sticky. Does he really want to be in fund-raising mode while running around being the newest state employee?
posted by Ray Hackett at 8:05 AM
1 Comments:
Well aren’t we clever! I have to almost admire the way you did that. You spun a plus into a negative rather artfully.
I hope you didn't sprain anything.
But honestly now, Rob is only paying back money he unselfishly lent to a worthy cause he believes in. He didn’t know at the time if he would be able to pay himself back.
How many of us would have done the same? I know I wouldn't have sunk my personal fortune for a lousy seat in congress.
Nice try but I think you should leave Rob alone. You got what you wanted after all. Your boy is in D.C. representing the Connecticut Bar Association. Stop beating a dead horse.
-- And congratulations, you just earned Rob a modest contribution from yours truly.
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