News reports surfaced today revealing that George Mason University, a Virginia public school, has invited controversial film director Michael Moore to speak at GMU and that he would be paid $35,000 for the appearance. Delegate Frederick wrote Dr. Merten, stating in part:

Notwithstanding my opinion of Mr. Moore and my belief that he would bring little to the academic environment, I do appreciate that academia should promote all forms of debate and discussion no matter how idiotic and outrageous. However, funding such speech is an entirely different matter. Your Office of Media Relations has confirmed that Moore’s payment would come from university funds.

As many of us work to make the taxpayer dollar go further and be better prioritized, spending these or any public funds for such a purpose ranks at the top of the list of those things that are unnecessary, extravagant and wasteful, especially considering your strong advocacy for increased state spending for GMU. Frankly, I wonder how much of your support for raising taxes on the Virginia family is for expenses such as Moore’s visit to your university, and if the GMU budget simply contains $35,000 too much.