Tom Dunn, campaign spokesman for Tim Bee for Congress, is pushing back against demands by Pima Democrats that the campaign pay the costs incurred to the city of Tucson and Pima County due to the visit of Pres. Bush on Bee's behalf.

"The campaign has paid the expenses based on longstanding regulations," said Dunn in a statement. "The White House has a formula that has been in place since Reagan that has been adhered to by Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush."

Dunn's response came as prominent Pima County Democratic officials, including Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Elias, Tucson Vice Mayor Karen Uhlich and Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Vince Rabago gathered at a press conference to demand the campaign reimburse the city and county the estimated $99,000 spent on law enforcement escorts for Bush's July 17 visit.  

"Local law enforcement agencies are struggling with tight budgets," said Rabago in a release announcing the press event, "but Tim Bee is acting like a typical politician and abusing their services to pay for his political campaign. Bee's campaign has bragged about raising a half million dollars during his Bush fundraiser. The President was clearly here for a private event, yet the public got stuck with the tab. This is inexcusable behavior by someone who wants a say in determining how federal taxpayer dollars are spent."

According to Dunn, though, that statement is hypocritical and inaccurate.

"It's just another partisan attack from our opponent," said Dunn. "President Clinton did visit Tucson while President and also recently made visits to support Jim Pedersen and Gabrielle Giffords in 2006; they adhered to the same standards.

"Do these same Democrats want every city and town that Barack Obama visits to be reimbursed for these very same expenses?" he continued. "Will they demand Barak [sic] Obama or John McCain pay for all expenses when they visit Tucson? There is a long list of politicians that have visited and the panel has not made the same request…Giffords and Pedersen had President Clinton in town in 2006, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards have been in town for the Democrats requiring security, where was this demand at those times?"

Dunn concluded, "This has nothing to do about protecting the taxpayer and everything to do about political partisan gamesmanship."