Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is requesting $23,300 in taxpayer funding for a first-ever county delegation to Paris, France, along with the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice University.

Hidalgo claims the junket, scheduled for June 8 -15, is intended to showcase Harris County as a hub for innovation and artificial intelligence. She proposes to be accompanied by three county employees.

Critics of the proposed trip to France argue that it sends the wrong message at a time when Harris County is reportedly facing a $129 million budget deficit. Earlier this month, Hidalgo said during a heated meeting that the county could not raise sheriff deputy pay due to a lack of funds.

https://texags.com/forums/38/topics/3433101

i assume she would be interacting with a bunch of other know-nothing boondoggle participants. so, this should be money very well spent.

How much do local politicians love junkets though?

Didn't Anise go on a junket to Amsterdam to learn about how they ride bikes there?

Pretty sure that's how we ended up with the abortion of a bike lane and road tits on Dallas.

So Lina does this and it's welcome to Houston Cyberdine Systems.

P.H. Dexippus said:

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$23k seems like a fair price if she's refused re-entry when she tries to come back.

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I hope nobody sends this thread to Trump.

Mathguy64 said:

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Sure. She can go. Reimbursements and conditions as follows.

1. Round trip coach/economy class ticket. Receipts required. Traveler is responsible for all baggage fees.
2. $100 per diem per day, no alcohol. Receipts required.
3. Hotel double occupancy. No family members allowed. Receipts required.
4. Transportation to and from delegation specific functions. Receipts required.
5. No reimbursements for personal travel.
6. No personal activities allowed for duration of period of trip. This is work not a vacation.
7. Window of travel no more than 18 hours before and after window of official activities.

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Agree but perdiem does not require receipts. There are two rates published by the state Dept. One that includes hotels and one that's just meals and incidentals. Rate for both is destination dependent.

I'm not sure about govt rates on international tavern hotels.

She went to Paris looking for answers
To questions that bothered her so

Change my mind on all this. Send Lina to Paris. What's the worst that could happen? $23k a drop in the bucket for the entertainment it'll provide.

I'm not sure what you mean. That was a rumor going around the admin building for a while that once she figured out what the formal powers of a county judge really are (and are not), she started lobbying for some kind of appointment.

That was also when she (or whoever her progressive backers are) kept getting all those "rising star" profiles run in national outlets. She was probably more invested in the presidential election than the average activist.

Quote:

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she was trying to suck up for a job in the Biden administration

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I mean it's placed on the tee and all.

She can go so long as she and her three county employees pay for the entire trip themselves. Or get the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice University to fund their vacation.

I can't imagine any serious person wanting to listen to a word this dumbass has to say.

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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How much do local politicians love junkets though?

Didn't Anise go on a junket to Amsterdam to learn about how they ride bikes there?

Pretty sure that's how we ended up with the abortion of a bike lane and road tits on Dallas.

So Lina does this and it's welcome to Houston Cyberdine Systems.

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Don't forget Ed's trips around the world to see what he could do with his beloved Astrodome.

I'm fine with footing the bill if she stays there

Stings that we might've been one junket away from getting an Astrodome deal done.