Epic Fail

They Didn’t Build That

In case you haven't heard, the theme of this year's GOP convention is "We Built This."

Ironically, the location the convention is being held in was primarily built with public funding.

The theme, The Daily Dolt points out, will be promoted in the Tampa Bay Times Forum arena (the “Ice Palace”), which was built in 1996 with 62 percent government funds, according to National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University Law School.

Of the total $139 million budget, $86 million was public funding.

Furthermore, the city of Tampa recieved a federal grant of $50 million to provide security for the event.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa has spent all but $2.7 million of the $50 million federal grant it received for Republican National Convention security.

The Tampa Tribune reports that personnel costs are taking up more than half of the grant, at $26.1 million. City officials say that will help pay for about 3,500 law enforcement officers brought in from across the state to police the city during the Aug. 27-30 convention.

Was the federal grant deficit neutral? Inquiring minds want to know.