AP INVESTIGATION: SC gov's plane use questioned

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Google/AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford used state aircraft for personal and political trips, often bringing along his wife and children — contrary to state law regarding official use, an Associated Press investigation has found.

According to state budget law, "Any and all aircraft owned or operated by agencies of the State Government shall be used only for official business."

Records reviewed by the AP show that since he took office in 2003, the two-term Republican has taken trips on state aircraft to locations of his children's sporting events, hair and dentist appointments, political party gatherings and a birthday party for a campaign donor.

On March 10, 2006, a state plane was sent to pick up Sanford in Myrtle Beach and return him to Columbia, the state capital, at a cost of $1,265 — when his calendar showed his only appointment in Columbia was "personal time" at his favorite discount hair salon. He had flown to Myrtle Beach on a private plane and attended a county GOP event.

The trip home on the state aircraft took off at 1:50 p.m. and arrived in Columbia at 2:35, enabling the governor to keep his plans for a 3 p.m. haircut across town. There were no other appointments on his official schedule that afternoon; the trip back to Columbia would have taken about three hours by car.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gSMfxKHMoO1OFs6QNK17IRNRWbGQD99VF7J00

[indepat]

1. Who woulda' thunk it?

:P

[PatSeg]

2. A $1,265 Hair cut??

That's some discount!

[mascarax]

4. No kidding! What was full price?!

Hmm...maybe he had some other work done.

Why is this guy still in office?

[PatSeg]

5. Manicure and a facial?

Maybe this was his way of saying, "See, we don't need no stinkin' stimulus money!"

[Wednesdays]

7. But that HORRIBLE Demoncrat Bill Clinton and HIS haircuts

cost us taxpayers HUNDREDS of dollars!!!1

(Never mind that the whole story is either undocumented or untrue.)

:crazy:

But, just like everything else...IOKIYAR.

[PatSeg]

8. And IF Bill Clinton got a $200 haircut on Air Force One,

I really have no problem with that. The simplest activities in life are much more complicated when one is President and time is very valuable. I'd hardly expect a busy president to drive down to the nearby Super Cuts. Goods and services come to him.

[orwell]

3. He ran for office...

...decrying such political abuses.

More GOP hypocrisy on parade.

[PatSeg]

6. Well, that's for regular folks

He is one of the "chosen" people, so rules don't apply to him. God wants him to have his heart's desire.

[orwell]

9. God wants me to have a pony...

...I'm still waiting God! x(

[PatSeg]

10. Sorry.............

......you're not one of the "chosen". Jesus loves them more.

[orwell]

11. Thanks for explaining...

...I'll stop holding my breath now... :hi:

[PatSeg]

12. No problem

We must remain humble to those who God has put in charge!



I'm reading "The Family" - it is like an engrossing novel, very scary stuff.

[dgibby]

13. If Sanford is oneof God's chosen,

God has really poor taste.

[dgibby]

14. The plane's not the only thing being investigated.

The Post and Courier, Charleston's newspaper, requested budget information from SLED (the State Law Enforcement Dept) in July, but has not received it as yet, despite filing FOIA requests.

In addition, Reggie Lloyd, SLED's director has blasted the P&C for "inaccurate" reporting, despite the fact that the paper has a tape of Lloyd's interview, disparaging his predecessor for poor record keeping.

Lloyd is the person who spent a grand total of apporx 2 days "investigating" Mark Sanford's use of state funds, and declaring the Gov. innocent of any wrongdoing as it related to the budget.:rofl:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/aug/09/full_access_public_records91957/

http://search.aol.com/aol/search?s_it=topsearchbox.search&q=post+and+Courier+%2BSLED+%2B+Aug+6%2C+2009