🧵 THREAD: ✈️ Political Travel Perks on Your Dime! 💰
I developed a new tool to uncover taxpayer-funded travel spending by politically connected organizations. What I found was shocking—millions spent on travel, often by groups with deep political ties.
Our favorite Uniparty NGOs were among the leads:
🔎 International Republican Institute (IRI) (EIN 521340267) – Nearly $12.2 million in travel expenses (9% of all receipts), with 96.65% of funding from taxpayers.
🔎 National Democratic Institute (NDI) (EIN 521338892) – Spent $13.8 million on travel (8% of all receipts) while getting 97.46% of its funding from taxpayers.
I developed a new tool to uncover taxpayer-funded travel spending by politically connected organizations. What I found was shocking—millions spent on travel, often by groups with deep political ties.
Our favorite Uniparty NGOs were among the leads:
🔎 International Republican Institute (IRI) (EIN 521340267) – Nearly $12.2 million in travel expenses (9% of all receipts), with 96.65% of funding from taxpayers.
🔎 National Democratic Institute (NDI) (EIN 521338892) – Spent $13.8 million on travel (8% of all receipts) while getting 97.46% of its funding from taxpayers.
Link to the new tool: datarepublican.com/nonprofit/asse…
But that's not all! The biggest anomaly by far was Meridian International Center, which spent a stunning 34.6% of its budget or 21.5 million on travel. It proudly brags about being a partner to the Department of State.
As with many of these Uniparty satellite NGOs, their purpose is vague: "[empowering] the next era of leaders to advance diplomacy for a better future."
But, they do use the magic word in plenty of their xeets: "Democracy." Which, as we now know, is a flashing neon sign for the ruling elite.
As with many of these Uniparty satellite NGOs, their purpose is vague: "[empowering] the next era of leaders to advance diplomacy for a better future."
But, they do use the magic word in plenty of their xeets: "Democracy." Which, as we now know, is a flashing neon sign for the ruling elite.
And as predictable, the principal officers for Meridian International Center are full of political heavyweights:
🔵 Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman (as of 4/23) – Former Obama Deputy Administrator of Small Business Administration, ex-ExIm Bank Chair, major Democratic fundraiser.
🔵 Dwight Bush, Chair - Global Engagement – Former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco under Obama.
🔵 Steve Hilton, Trustee – Former Deputy Assistant to President Clinton, Obama Transition Team member, corporate government relations executive.
🔴 Stuart W. Holliday, CEO – Former U.S. Ambassador for U.N., Special Assistant to President George W. Bush (salaried; $480,115).
🔴 Drew Maloney, Trustee – Former Trump Treasury official, ex-Romney campaign advisor.
🔵 Francisco Sánchez, Trustee – Former Under Secretary of Commerce for Trade under Obama.
🔵 Daniel W. Yohannes, Trustee – Former U.S. Ambassador to OECD under Obama, ex-CEO of Millennium Challenge Corporation.
🔵 Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman (as of 4/23) – Former Obama Deputy Administrator of Small Business Administration, ex-ExIm Bank Chair, major Democratic fundraiser.
🔵 Dwight Bush, Chair - Global Engagement – Former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco under Obama.
🔵 Steve Hilton, Trustee – Former Deputy Assistant to President Clinton, Obama Transition Team member, corporate government relations executive.
🔴 Stuart W. Holliday, CEO – Former U.S. Ambassador for U.N., Special Assistant to President George W. Bush (salaried; $480,115).
🔴 Drew Maloney, Trustee – Former Trump Treasury official, ex-Romney campaign advisor.
🔵 Francisco Sánchez, Trustee – Former Under Secretary of Commerce for Trade under Obama.
🔵 Daniel W. Yohannes, Trustee – Former U.S. Ambassador to OECD under Obama, ex-CEO of Millennium Challenge Corporation.
High travel expenses are a recurring pattern with many of those NGOs, particularly the smaller ones:
Legacy International. 40.37% of expenses are in travel. It is almost entirely taxpayer-funded.
Per usual, you cannot tell exactly what they have accomplished from their website. They say they have engaged "465 volunteers & speakers."
Mary Helmig, their vice president, states she has directed US Department of State Exchange programs.
Legacy International. 40.37% of expenses are in travel. It is almost entirely taxpayer-funded.
Per usual, you cannot tell exactly what they have accomplished from their website. They say they have engaged "465 volunteers & speakers."
Mary Helmig, their vice president, states she has directed US Department of State Exchange programs.
There are over 60 million in active spending awards for the mysterious Meridian International Center:
It is a misconception that just because a NGO does not pay a principal officer, than that principal officer cannot possibly derive any benefit from that NGO.
NGOs can pay for travel, accommodations, rents, and much more. And they can hold assets under certain circumstances.
Perhaps there is no better example than Bill Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, which reported 30 million in revenue in their most recent 990 filing, and spent 10 million on travel and conferences - and they report 300+ million in assets on top of that:
NGOs can pay for travel, accommodations, rents, and much more. And they can hold assets under certain circumstances.
Perhaps there is no better example than Bill Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, which reported 30 million in revenue in their most recent 990 filing, and spent 10 million on travel and conferences - and they report 300+ million in assets on top of that:
💖🇺🇸 Happy Valentine's Day to you, America! 🇺🇸 💖
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