Your Tax Dollars
I suspect this is how many politicians feel about your hard-earned money that the city, state, and Federal government swipe from you -- just a big piggybank from which they can pay for their fun, frivolity, and personal expenses...just as long as they can twist them into something that sounds remotely government'y...or...not.

In this case, a Baltimore politican used city police officers from the marine and helicopter units to stage a fake raid so he could propose to his girlfriend. Peter Hermann writes for the Balt Sun:

State Del. Jon S. Cardin called Baltimore's police commissioner this morning and apologized for using city police officers from the marine and helicopter units to stage a fake raid during which the lawmaker proposed marriage to his girlfriend.

"He offered an apology for putting the Baltimore Police Department in this kind of predicament and spotlight," Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III told reporters after honoring a family that donated money and time to help spruce up the police academy in Pimlico.

Cardin, a Baltimore County Democrat who issued a brief statement Monday and did not return calls for comment today, has also promised to repay the city for any expenses incurred Aug. 7. That night, he and a friend had officers board a boat, pretend to search it and find a box with a ring for his soon-to-be fiance.

The story has brought national attention to the Baltimore County representative, who also is an attorney, and embarrassed the Police Department as it deals with crime at the Inner Harbor and elsewhere and is trying to persuade citizens to donate money to help cash-strapped programs survive.

Bealefeld said an internal investigation is under way "to figure out exactly what occurred ... what resources were used, how they were used and who was involved." Department officials don't yet know how much money the stunt cost taxpayers, but officials have said the officers involved were on-duty and diverted from fighting crime.

via ifeminists