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
- BYU ties give Utes an edge 9:20 p.m.
- Y. focused on 10-win season 9:11 p.m.
- Cougars cruise past Southern 9:10 p.m.
- Photos: Thanksgiving fun 9:00 p.m.
- Bountiful gym will hold 5K 8:57 p.m.
- S.L. will light up for the holidays 8:56 p.m.
- Coaches decline to call BYU-Utah 8:37 p.m.
- Holiday could bring more H1N1 8:36 p.m.
- Man stabbed in road-rage incident 8:34 p.m.
- Utah firm offers writable disc 8:29 p.m.
- Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- Best prep football games of 2009
- KSL: Prostitution in Utah County
- Man trapped in own body for 23 yrs
- Kirilenko climbing blocks list
- Woman describes stabbing, killing
- Boys basketball rankings
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
228 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
223 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
181 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
179 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
137 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
136 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
118 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
104
The ironic thing is we are letting 538 people who are pretty much set for...
@Scare D. Katt 2:43 p.m.: "We [on the left] are not "scared" of former...
I'm glad to see the coaches aren't sleeping on American Fork girls. They lost...
who won the blue red rivalry game for the 1280 the zone?
re: Joe Moe | 5:14 p.m. Nov. 24, 2009 Gee! I wonder. Truth hurts?...
@Ryan, The sculptures on government buildings which also include Winged...
Who is "The Shirt"?
I used to hate soccer. I'm a baseball, football fan through and through, but...
Why did women scream and weep for Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beatles,...
Hello? have you seen region 11




You can be the first to comment on this story.