by Mark Silva
Mark Sanford, the roaming governor of South Carolina who campaigned with a pledge to "fix'' the problem of lavish spending of taxpayer dollars, has billed the state $37,600 for one first-class flight and four business-class flight overseas since November 2005, an Associated Press investigation of the governor's spending has found.
"This kind of lavish spending with taxpayers footing the bill just doesn't make any sense to me," the Republican said in one campaign ad when he first was running for governor. ""If I become your governor, I'll fix that problem."
The governor's billings included $8,687 for a Delta Airlines flight to Brazil last year, a trade mission with the Commerce Department that included a visit to his later-disclosed Argentine mistress, Maria Belen Chapur, the start of a yearlong love affair with his avowed "soul-mate.''
The father of four' publicly acknowledged his extramarital relationship after flying to Buenos Aires over the Father's Day weekend this year to see his mistress, with the governor's office explaining at the time that the missing governor had gone out on the Appalachian Trail.
Other state employees had spent less than $2,000 each for economy seats for the Brazil flight, according to records released by two state agencies under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act.
Sanford has since repaid $3,300 for part of that Brazil-Argentina jaunt.
His spokesman defends the other expenses.
"He compares very favorably with previous administrations on use of the state plane, and we believe he would compare favorably on his use of other state travel as well," spokesman Joel Sawyer says.
But the former congressman who first ran for governor in 2002 boasting of sleeping on a cot in his office to save money and blasting incumbent state officials for their expensive travels has outpaced other officials on other trips as well.
Sanford billed the state $12,172 for travel to China in 2007, which included business-class accommodations on United Airlines, upgraded food, drinks and an oversized reclining chair. State Rep. Nikki Haley, a Republican, was a member of the state mission to China. Her flight cost $6,842. Others on the trip charged the state between $1,905 and $3,963 each for their flights, expense records show.
The state paid more than $5,000 for Sanford to fly to Poland in April, including at least part of the trip in the more expensive business-class seating. He spent $4,685 of state money on a Lufthansa business-class flight to Munich in April 2007. The governor also flew in the most expensive "envoy class," also referred to as first class, on a U.S. Airways flight to London in 2006 at a cost of $7,065.
State Senate Minority Leader John Land recalls the criticism that candidate Sanford heaped on others, the AP reports.
""I reckon he's a hypocrite," the Democrat says. "He goes before the Christian right and professes to be one thing and yet his conduct is something else. He goes before the people of the state and talks about his fiscal conservatism. But yet when you see him in action, he's going first class and spending the state taxpayers' money."
Comments
I am not excusing Sanford's behavior. But Mark, where is the Swamp itema about Democrat Virginia Gov. Kaine charging VIrginia taxpayers while he is jetsetting across the country doing the work of the Democratic party? If were going to write about Sanford's problems, the let's cover others doing taxpayers wrong. Or, is the Tribune incapable of honest and fair reporting?
Posted by: John D | July 17, 2009 9:42 AM
Sanford is a fraud and a glowing hypocrite, to say the very least. Here's a character who, over Father's Day weekend, ran away from his wife and kids to Argentina, to continue his extramarital affair with his 'soulmate'. Of course he charged all to the SC taxpayers and lied about the entire thing. During his news conference admission, he started crying and told us he's sorry and loves his wife. If you believe this rat, you believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
Posted by: Doug R. | July 17, 2009 9:43 AM
Why is this Republican hypocrite (Sanford) still in office?
Posted by: LoveBuzz | July 17, 2009 11:13 AM
JD,
I think you may be reading more into the Kaine thing than is actually there. The VA Republican Party wants Kaine's travel records related to his work with the DNC. They don't claim the Commonwealth is paying for his travel nor expenses, they claim the VA Trooper who acts as the Governor's bodyguard was travelling with the Governor at the Commonwealth's expense. The DNC has already pledged to re-imburse the Commonwealth for the expense incurred by the trooper accompanying Kaine on his travels for the DNC. The VA RNC is trying to make an issue of the Governor's refusal to supply them with his travel record. The Governor claims his office has no obligation to do so and it's a waste of the Commonwealth's money to produce these records when the RNC can simply view the Governor's travel records for the DNC on the DNC website. Even the VA RNC has dropped it's pursuit against the Governor as it has itself deemed the pursuit a waste of Commonwealth funds. Sounds like everybody has got this non-issue worked out but you. Nice job of "spinning and implying" though. You have a bright future should you ever want to run for office!
K
Posted by: kg123 | July 17, 2009 11:29 AM
Sanford's AWOL excursion to Argentina may have cost South Carolina jobs.
Yet another example of the price South Carolina must pay for its AWOL Republican governor:
"The governor allowed some economic development initiatives to take a back seat during his secret trip. Sanford was invited to — but turned down — a dinner invitation June 24 with representatives from a company looking to expand its S.C. operation, according to e-mail records. The company’s name was redacted. Sanford also declined a June 25 celebration event for a plant expansion by a S.C. business because his schedule was "just absolutely jammed this summer," wrote a staffer in an e-mail."
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http://www.thestate.com/local/story/862957.html
So on the one hand, Sanford thinks the stimulus was the wrong way to go about stabilizing and boosting the economy. On the other hand, he thinks his sex life is more important than meeting the private businesses who he says are the only way to truly grow the economy.
Apparently, Sanford just isn't interested in the kind of jobs that South Carolina needs -- jobs that will put people back to work.
Posted by: caped crusader | July 17, 2009 11:30 AM
I am not excusing Sanford's behavior
Posted by: John D | July 17, 2009 9:42 AM
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Yes you are little Johnny Tin Can,
You're doing what you always do when corrupt Wingnut politicians get caught with their hands in the cookie jar before dinner - you're crying about any Dem you can think to distract from your beloved Republicans repulsive behavior.
Posted by: janet | July 17, 2009 11:38 AM
Well, kg, when it comes to the spinning it is more like you doing the spin thing. I asked a simple question based on real questions as noted in this item from NBC News, a friend of the Democratic party:
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Kaine-Refuses-To-Release-Travel-Records-Again.html
And more:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/DNCC271_20090626-234202/276747/
With a key paragraph from this item about the travel records "available" for public view:
"Tran said that Mullins can track Kaine's movements through the Democrat's public schedule, available online and sent to reporters each week.
That schedule does not include political events, such as fundraisers for state legislative candidates, or travel outside Virginia on behalf of the DNC."
And Dumb Dumb Janet, or should i say to the shackled one in mumsy and dadsy's basement, John E., nope, just wondering why we get item after item after item on Mark Sanford, who can't even run for re-election and who's political career is over, and not one item on Tim Kaine or another FBI probe into John Murtha or Charlie Rangel's IRS and legal problems and so on and so forth.
Since Clinton didn't resign because as we were told "it was just all about sex," then I don't think Sanford should resign either.
Personally, I think the guy is a troubled idiot. But, then I think the clown occupying the White House is a major league idiot!
Posted by: John D | July 17, 2009 12:45 PM
Didn't Pelosi, Larson, DiLauro - and assorted spouses - spend more than $60,000 for a week in Italy - with a side trip to A'gan so they could write it off to we taxpayers? They jumped into their "private" plane just as soon as the ink was on the stimulus bill and the CEO's of major coorporations were accused of "using private jets". Oh, my.
Sanford's costs began in 2005 - Pelosi was in just ONE WEEK. Where is the outrage? Tranparency? A joke.
This sounds like a "get Sanford" attack in which the facts are massaged to create the worst image. What about the other Senators who make trips? How much did you and I pay for Obama's "Grand Tour" in which he dissed the wounded soldiers in Germany and worked out at the spa at the Ritz Carlton? I never said I'd pay for that?
Who paid for Michell's $6,000 purse? We can't look at Sanford without looking into others as well.
Posted by: Linda Mae | July 17, 2009 1:44 PM
OK JD....Let's go.
The story was about Sanford stating he'd save the tax payers monies if he were elected. He, in fact, flew upgraded class rather than coach. He was the one who claimed to sleep on cots to save constituants money. You turned the story into being about something completely different. Sanford ran on high morals. He held others to those high morals and, in his own life, he failed the moral "litmus test" he preached to other people. He told how he would sacrifice for his constituants. He implied he was the better candidate for office because of this, yet his actions read like a chapter from Orwell's "Animal Farm". Again, he failed his financial "litmus test" he used against his political opponents. He shouldn't resign because he had an affair. He shouldn't resign because he lied. He should resign because he should hold himself to the same standard he held others to. If he didn't want to be judged, he shouldn't have been so judgmental. Maybe you should consider this before you call people idoits, or dumb dumb. Look in a mirror . Maybe you'll see a hypocrite.
Posted by: kg123 | July 17, 2009 2:45 PM
When it came to stimulus funds designed to help the unemployed get through the recession, Mark Sanford said: NO.
When it came to using federal money to build better schools for impoverished children, Mark Sanford said: NO.
When it came to helping people put food on the table as they struggle through these tough economic times, Mark Sanford said: NO
But when it came to using taxpayer money to fly in the luxury of first-class on his way to getting some tail on the side in Argentina, Mark Sanford said: YES.
Mark Sanford = typical self centered "Conservative" whackjob.
Posted by: there goes Africa... | July 17, 2009 3:37 PM
Kg, regardless of whether Sanford campaigned as a fiscally prudent or responsible candidate or not, to let Tim Kaine slide by because he may not have campaigned as being prudent with taxpayers money is ridiculous. Like I already said, I am not excusing Sanford and his actions in anyway. But there is evidence that Kaine has been doing DNC business on the dime of Virginia's taxpayers. No matter how you spin it, that is wrong and should be investigated, just as Sanford is being investigated by state officials and the media.
There Goes Africa, Sanford was right to not want stimulus money. Tne reality is that this stimululs hasn't stimulated anything, except for ballooning our national debt.
Posted by: John D | July 17, 2009 6:36 PM
Sanford was right to not want stimulus money. Tne reality is that this stimululs hasn't stimulated anything, except for ballooning our national debt.
Posted by: John D | July 17, 2009 6:36 PM
----------------------------------------
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It took your heroes in BushCo eight years to destroy our economy, it's going to take more than six months for the adults (Pres Obama and Dems) to clean it up.
Shut up and sit down, you Cretin Clown!
Posted by: janet | July 17, 2009 10:57 PM
Are you having as much trouble keeping up with all of the Republican sex scandals as I am? Well, here's a handy flowchart to guide you along.
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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/06/sex_scandal_flow_chart.php
Posted by: Republican family values | July 18, 2009 4:24 AM
The hypocracy of the Republican party is stunning. This coming from one of the Family Values Wingnuts (Sanford) who demanded Clinton resign due to his indiscretions. At least Clinton stayed home to do it rather than skipping town without telling anyone. Oh yeah, and Sanford lied about his whereabouts when he was on his tax payer funded adultery hookup.
Nice wingnuts. Very nice.
Posted by: Opie | July 18, 2009 4:34 AM
Sanford was right to not want stimulus money. Tne reality is that this stimululs hasn't stimulated anything, except for ballooning our national debt.
Posted by: John D
Yet the Republican governor of Florida is crowing about how many thousands of teachers jobs were saved by the stimulus money.
Posted by: mort | July 18, 2009 11:54 AM
Dumb Dumb Janet and Dopie Opie once again are showing clear thinking and Left-wing Lunacy are about as far apart as the Sun and Pluto.
Dumb Dumb Janet, under Bush the economy was humming along, with low interest rates, unemployment in the mid 4s and the Dow past 14,000 until the housing market crashed, in part due to the policies set forth by Bill Clinton and the covering up of Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's financial chicanery did the economy in.
And Dopie Opie, Clinton lied about his daliances under oath. He committed crimes. The sex with a 22-year-old intern was not the crime (though that would get any military commander and any business CEO fired), but his perjury, his cover-up and his obstruction of justice. To date, we don't know if Sanford committed a crime or not in regard to his dalliance. If he did, then he should resign and deal with whatever comes his way legally.
Posted by: John D | July 18, 2009 12:16 PM
Oh, how typical of philadering southern men! After being caught in the act, Sanford quotes the Bible, begs for forgiveness, and calls on God's power to make him a better man! Like a person in Hell wants ice water, Sanford calls on people of faith to forgive him and allow him time to heal his marriage and family and earn back the people's trust! Give me a break!
Sanford is an adulteror, a phoney Christian, a hypocrite, and a liar. He's brought months of negative attention and ridicule to his state. He should resign or be forced out of office.
Unfortunately, the good people of SC have no vote in ousting Sanford, the governor who ran for office on his Christian Family Values and sense of personal responsibility. Fellow Republicans, like Senator Lindsay Graham will simply slap his wrist, look the other way, and hope and pray that the deaths of Michael Jackson and Walter Cronkite and the John Ensign scandal will distract the networks from reporting any further lurid details.
Columbia's conservative pro-Sanford newspaper, The State, sat on emails between Sanford and his paramour for nearly 6 months! Sanford had spent months fighting Obama's Stimulus dollars. He gained notoriety by appearing on national TV to protest Obama's "out of control" spending. His lavish ads, with Sanford seated in a gilded chair in the Governor's mansion, appeared on SC TV several times a day, protesting the high cost of accepting Stimulus dollars. Only after his battle was lost and the SC legislature was in recess did the newpaper report Sanford's affair. Breaking the story was very conveniently timed to coincide with the SC legislature's long summer break. His own administration's quickly conducted investigation found that he did not use state funds to finance his affair. No surprise, now, there is proof to the contrary.
Only after Sanford was AWOL from his office staff and out of touch with the Lt. Governor for 5 days, reportedly "hiking the Appalachian Trail" (in 114 degree weather, mind you) while his state car was parked at the airport in Atlanta, did The State report the story. Only when caught in lies, did Sanford express regret for his actions and repay the state for funds spent to extend his July 2008 Dept. of Commerce meeting to include a side trip to Argentina. Only when caught in a sex scandal, did Sanford apologize to his friends, political colleagues, his wife and children, and the people of his state. This week, as more details emerge, his official spokesperson has resigned.
Sanford has ties to Washington D.C.'s C Street "church" where John Ensign and other hypocrites belonging to The Family kept one another's nasty little secrets. They were counseled that they were chosen by God to lead so the usual rules did not apply to them. Meanwhile, Sanford's new book about fiscal conservatism, Within Our Means, is ready to hit the bookstores. Yet, Sanford continues to deny that he was posturing for 2012.
While Sanford plays, SC struggles with 3rd highest unemployment rate in the country, ranks 46th in education (with a 57% drop out rate), and ranks among the highest in poverty, teenage pregnancy, and obesity.
Soap opera or made for TV movie? You just can't make this stuff up!
Posted by: Carol A | July 19, 2009 10:04 PM