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European Trip For Crist, Entourage Cost $430k

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 9, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist took a pricey 12-day trip to Europe this summer, hitting taxpayers with a large bill amid a sagging economy, according to a report Sunday by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Crist flew to London, Paris, St. Petersburg (the one in Russia) and Madrid to drum up business, but the tab came in much higher than planned. Here's a look at how his trip went, moneywise:

What Was Spent

$430,000

Cost of the trip to taxpayers, compared with the planned cost of $255,000

$148,000

Amount Crist's entourage (including a photographer and nine bodyguards) spent on meals, hotels, transportation and incidentals

$30,000

Estimated expenses paid for by business executives who went with Crist; those expenses included a $2,179-a-night London suite for Crist's meetings, $8,000 for Crist's first-class round-trip tickets, and room service and minibar tabs of more than $1,300

$5,135

Amount Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey billed taxpayers for less than 12 hours of official duties during the trip

What Was Gained

$6 billion

Amount that companies from the countries Crist visited have invested in Florida's economy, according to Crist's office

$5.5 million

Amount Florida corporations made in sales jobs during the trip, according to Enterprise Florida, the company that arranged the trip

$96 million

Value of deals Florida companies laid groundwork for during the trip

Attention

Some political experts speculate Crist used the trip to bolster his image in foreign affairs. At the time, he was widely speculated to be a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain.

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