If you’re scratching your head wondering how the mayor can go all the way to China with a security officer and spend less than $2,000, here’s how. Someone else was picking up most of the tab. Airfare from DFW Airport to Taiwan for Price and her security officer were paid by the airport so she could take part in a signing ceremony to promote direct air links between DFW Airport and Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport. Airfare between Taiwan and Beijing was picked up by the U.S. Department of Energy, which was sponsoring the energy conference in China she attended. Here’s a breakdown of the costs that will be paid by the city: $915 for the security officer’s hotel costs, plus $611.13 in expenses by both the officer and mayor (taxis, meals, etc.) and $100 each to enroll in an online global registration system to handle international travel paperwork. Price has said the conference helped promote ties between Fort Worth-based oil and gas companies and China. She told the Star-Telegram last week that officials associated with PetroChina, the largest oil and natural gas producer in China, recently visited with Fort Worth-based XTO Energy. But there’s been some private grumbling about the trip from some residents about the mayor leaving the city for 10 days to hob-knob with energy officials.
--Bill Hanna
I think it shows all citizens who our Mayor is working for. We thought Mayor Moncrief was influenced by Gas Industry. Do not recall him going on trips to promote gas drilling he did all his control from behind the scenes at City Hall. Me thinks Ms Price does that and more obviuosly by this action. After Mayor what job for Ms. Price ? Citizens this trip still cost us to send her albe it just less than $2,0000.00. Ciizens watch you now know where our Mayor stands on Gas Drilling and anything that might make them operate in any other way than How they will chose to operate in our city.
Posted by: Gary Hogan | December 25, 2011 at 11:01 AM