December 7, 2008
Union Leader
Liquor Commission Chairman Mark Bodi is in hot water with the Executive Council for spending federal grant money that was available but not specifically needed or approved in buying a drunken-driving enforcement van. Although his use of the extra money made sense, Bodi was wrong to act without a full OK. Moreover, the issue points up the absurdity of the whole “federal grant” program when the nation is wallowing in debt.
The council itself accepted the $450,000 in U.S. taxpayer money for the van. It is supposed to be a combined education and enforcement tool. A company agreed to supply the specified unit for $355,545. But the Liquor Commission spent another $67,000 to add a big-screen TV, thermal-imaging system and upgraded global positioning.
Bodi says the add-ons were at the suggestion of law enforcement officials and that it will make the van useful for police and rescue command during emergencies and disasters. That seems reasonable. Why not make this big new van a multi-purpose vehicle for a relative “few dollars more?”
That is an example of Bodi bringing his private-sector approach to his new post. But he should have clued in the Executive Council, whose role is to watch the taxpayers’ pennies.
The larger problem, though, is why the commission, Gov. John Lynch, and the council are spending almost a half-million tax dollars in such a manner in the first place. As a previous New Hampshire governor (and perhaps the next Republican Party state chairman) used to say, there is a difference between “wants” and “needs.”