More fiscal conservatism from the GOP: Out-of-control convention spending.
Republicans are spending freely on their 2012 national convention in Tampa, burning through money at a pace that has alarmed some veterans of past conventions and causing more potential problems for Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele.
Spending through September topped $636,800, according to figures in a report to the Federal Election Commission. That is 18 times the amount spent in a comparable period four years ago.
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The Committee on Arrangements has neither a chairman nor broad membership. The only member is Louis M. Pope, the Republican National committeeman from Maryland, whom Steele appointed last summer as treasurer.
Steele named Belinda Cook, formerly his assistant, as liaison to the convention. The Washington Times reported last week that her contract calls for $15,000 a month in salary as well as a bonus of $25,000. Cook’s son is also on the RNC payroll.