From Deseret News archives:
Hannity travel tab near $50,000
But ticket sales and donations defray most of the expense
Though the conservative talk show host waived his $100,000 speaking fee to speak at Utah Valley State College Monday night, his travel expenses rival the total cost of bringing "Fahrenheit 9/11" director Michael Moore to the Orem campus Oct. 20, documents obtained by the Deseret Morning News reveal.
According to a travel invoice sent to the state school from Premiere Speakers Bureau, UVSC was billed $35,000 for private Hawker jet service, which shuttled Hannity from New York to Utah and on to Arizona, where he'll broadcast his show during tonight's presidential debate there. His return flight is also being covered by the college.
The total cost of the three-legged trip is actually around $50,000, but GOP gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. donated $10,000 and another Utah corporation offered $5,000 to help offset the expenses, UVSC spokesman Derek Hall confirmed.
Once tickets sales are factored in an estimated $35,000 was generated from general admission ticket sales, Hall said the UVSC student government actually made $150 on the event.
But Hannity wasn't worried about that figure, Hall said.
"I think (Hannity's) agent requested a letter from us stating that the travel costs were not coming from student fees," Hall said. "It's something he's made a big deal about on his radio show. He's repeatedly said, 'I don't want any student fees going towards my travel.' "
Compared to Moore's travel expenses $10,500 for an entourage of 11 Hannity's costs look excessive.
But Hannity told the Deseret Morning News that the sheer distance covered by his travels, not additional posh requests, upped the price.
"Private planes are expensive. The fuel is expensive," Hannity said. "I have two jobs so I do charter planes sometimes on my own, and I know what they cost. But (UVSC officials) said they wanted me to come and they wanted to pay my travel. And I wanted to be there to meet the students."
Hall confirmed the student government agreed to pay Hannity's travel costs, even after Huntsman's offer to send his private plane to fetch Hannity didn't fit the talk show host's schedule.
But rumors that Hannity canceled a Washington University appearance, where he also planned to counter an upcoming Moore speech, because he wasn't pleased with several private jets offered by a donor did make UVSC officials nervous, Hall said. Hannity has said safety concerns prompted that cancelation.
Comments
- Car crash victim in Lehi lifeflighted 8:21 p.m.
- TCU in good hands with Dalton 8:21 p.m.
- Drug trafficking operation busted 8:19 p.m.
- Bye came at good time for Weber 8:17 p.m.
- MWC focus is on Utes, Frogs 8:13 p.m.
- RSL to face Fire's Blanco 8:10 p.m.
- Lou Dobbs resigns from CNN 7:54 p.m.
- Colon cancer topic of News hotline 7:53 p.m.
- Try this chicken two-fer 6:54 p.m.
- Cats are trainable — no joke 6:47 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Gays get Mormon support in SLC
- House passes health care bill
283 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
237 - TCU showdown has big implications
193 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
100
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
Since we're having so much fun: If health care costs are causing so many...
ok hunters 19 playoff apperances in 20 years is the best percentage just saying
Interesting experience, read the Harmon article, then the Times article, then...
No way hunter has more kids than Alta. Maybe Davis now with syacuse...
Y'all talk about Max like he is the incarnation of Steve Young, Ty Detmer and...
I live in Santa Clarita, and it is a "town" of about 250k people. This is a...
Thanks for the info, looks like that was a good game. I didn't follow much of...
Utah Fans need to start stuffing the ballot boxes... I know the West is...
So easy: It's a good moniker for you because your arguments are so easy to...
To Anonymous | 6:51 p.m. Socialism does not require individual ownership...



You can be the first to comment on this story.