Obama Still Owes Chicago $1.74 Million

Obama hasn't been shy about lecturing us lesser-beings to live within our means. It's been a point of his over the past two weeks. So it's somewhat surprising (No...not really...I'm just pretending to be surprised) that Obama would still owe nearly $2 million to Chicago for his gaudy victory bash.

From Chicago Sun-Times:

Chicago has yet to recoup the $1.74 million cost of President Obama's victory celebration in Grant Park -- despite a burgeoning $50.5 million budget shortfall that threatens more layoffs and union concessions.

"The Democratic National Committee has not yet paid us,'' Peter Scales, a spokesman for the city's Office of Budget and Management, said Thursday after questions from the Chicago Sun-Times. "We're reaching out to them this week."

The bill for Barack Obama's election night rally at Grant Park

Police $1 million
Emergency Management and Communications Office $121,578
Fire Department $85,965
Streets and Sanitation $71,694
Transportation $49,659
Cultural Affairs $2,567
Environment $2,309
CTA $201,500
Chicago Park District $202,440
(Park District breakdown):
Giant video boards $68,900
Electrical $37,185
Sound $37,500
Stagehands $29,850
Portable toilets $12,500
Security $7,505
Stage rental $6,000
Bike racks, barricades $2,000
Heavy equipment $1,000
Total bill $1,737,712

Stacie Paxton, a spokeswoman for the Obama-controlled DNC, explained the reimbursement delay by saying, "We are still looking at various costs and bills.'' She would not say whether parts of the bill are disputed.

Hope and change in action. It won't be the last time the Democrats stiff the public. It's not even Obama's money. It's money he took from his starry eyed supporters. Many of whom live in Chicago. So yeah, how's that hope and change working out for ya?