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Parra goes out in style
Kern County’s termed-out Assemblywoman Nicole Parra has long been recognized as the queen (or certainly a princess) when it came to spending money – mostly campaign contributions – on junkets. Every year when the annual spending reports come out, Parra is at the top of the list for trips to places like Spain and Japan. She claimed the trips are strategic and that her constituents, as well as all Californians, benefit from what she learns on those trips.
As she prepares to leave office, new reports have been issued and The Sacramento Bee reveals the lame-duck lawmaker “largely emptied her campaign coffers this year,” spending thousands of dollars on travel, meals, parties and conferences.
As examples, the newspaper noted she picked up the $1,367 tab for four other lawmakers at a bash honoring former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez at Ceja Vineyards. She spent $5,083 on a party for 100 supporters at Sacramento’s Cabana Lounge. She hosted 14 guests at a $1,967 thank-you dinner at Sacramento’s Hyatt Hotel and $226 for two guests at Ella in Sacramento.
She recently returned from the Pacific Policy Research Foundation’s annual conference for former and current legislators in Maui. The trip used to be sponsored by the union representing California prison guards. But after lawmakers took heat over the appearance that they were beholden to the union, a non-profit foundation with family ties to former state senator and now State Board of Equalization member Bill Leonard, now sponsors the event. Major corporations and special interest groups send their contributions to this foundation.
The Sacramento Bee reported that this year Parra also traveled twice to Las Vegas for political events, to New Orleans for the National Conference of State Legislatures, to Newport Beach and Del Mar for meetings with moderate Democrats and to Chicago for a session of the New Democrat Network, a progressive think thank.
Just weeks ago, Democratic Assembly leaders booted Parra from her Capitol office after she failed to support a Democratic version of the state budget. Parra further angered Democrats when she endorsed Republican Danny Gilmore, rather than Democrat Fran Florez in the race to replace Parra as the 30th District representative.
Parra, who said she may run for state Senate in two years, will need to work hard to replace the campaign money she has spent on junkets and goodbye parties. She also contributed thousands to the campaigns of legislative colleagues.
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Dianne Hardisty
2 comments from 2 users
1
posted by
antiextremism
on Dec 1, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Remember, she supports Republican candidates now. You wanna run with the boys, you gotta play like the boys. Now where's that cigar? posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Dec 1, 2008 at 08:01 AM
"Now where's that cigar?" Done been smoked.... Yeah...She's a real thinker.
--virgil
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