Dawson’s Travel Expenses Raise Concerns
S.C. Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson has spent $75,000 on airfare and hotel accommodations over the last fifteen months, much of it tied to undisclosed trips that would appear to be part of his campaign for Republican National Committee Chairman.
From August of 2007 through the release of the latest disclosure reports, the SCGOP has spent $40,112.26 on plane tickets earmarked for Dawson – although only four of the Chairman’s trips are listed as official party business.
There are also multiple payments to numerous out-of-state hotels that are not specified as party business, either, all part of a SCGOP-paid $35,030.51 hotel bill that Dawson has racked up over the past fifteen months.
In addition to these charges, Dawson has received multiple “reimbursements” from the SCGOP’s operating account for travel expenses, although no record has been kept of where he went or why.
Certainly, there’s some legitimate travel included in the report – including Dawson’s trip to the GOP convention in Minneapolis earlier this year – but the high percentage of undisclosed items is certainly fodder for those who believe Dawson is using the SCGOP to get elected RNC Chairman.
Comments
By LowcountryGOP on December 29th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I wonder how Wallace Scarborough feels about that money being wasted instead of being used to help him keep his House seat? Seems like $75,000 sure could have helped him pick up the extra 221 votes he needed to win… Sounds like Katon Dawson would fit in perfectly with those big spending liberal Republicans in DC.
By Mark Harbough on December 29th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
If true, that is totally unacceptable. My mother gives religiously to the Republican Party of South Carolina–not to Chairman Dawson’s slush fund. What are your sources? Can you link them in your story?
By Todd on December 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I have worked with Katon Dawson on some committees in the past few years. He was obsessive about documentation, propriety and transparency. I was most impressed with his self-discipline regarding finances and being above board with the most insignificant of line items. Have you ever talked with him one on one at a cocktail party? The guy will tell anyone way more than they want to know about any subject – including personal stuff. I would be very surprised if there is a penny unaccounted for in his log book.
By Mark Harbough on December 29th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I don’t doubt it… I cannot find the info on the SC Ethics website… where did this report come from?
By Is Katon really a Republican? on December 29th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Where does he stand on the major issues ? Does he disagree with Bush and McCain on the bailouts? or on spending? or the cause for war in Iraq? Has he ever criticized the Republican party for having no moral compass these last 8 years? Does he believe in torturing prisoners and the right for the government to spy on citizens without a court order?
If he could answer these questions honestly in a true conservative fashion I might overlook the excessive travel expenses – but I suspect we have the worst of both world here – someone with no morals and no values looking out for himself first , his party second , and our country dead last.
By Harris on December 29th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I don’t thrust him as far as I can throw him.
By Silence the Noise on December 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Katon Katon Katon……you should really have honored your word and not run again instead of staying on to run for chair of the national GOP.
You sir, are an idiot.
Not once have you denounced the idiocricy of the Republicans in power at the statehouse.
Not once have you stated your position on the issues.
Not once have you used your position to be a sounding board for what constitutes good conservative policy…..not once.
I say again…..you sir…..are an idiot.
By Here is what Katon stands for on December 30th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Katon has a plan on his very own website-
http://www.katondawson.com/The_Dawson_Plan_files/DawsonPlan.pdf
It is a self-proclaimed vision of hope and returning to values – with nothing specific enough in it to amount to a cup of warm spit. It resembles something someone would write running for high school president. He talks about restoring faith in the party – but when the time was ripe for speaking out against all the recent Republican tragic mistakes – where was Katon? He was in his whites only country club defending the Republican party and saying Democrats wanted to surrender to the terrorists in the Middle East.
Someone needs to ask Katon some real world questions.
By Toyota Kawaski on December 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am
VOTE FOR CHIP SALTSMAN
By bobbyvan on December 30th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Just remember where the SCGOP was financially before Katon took over and where it is now.
Katon is well known for his financial turn-around of the party from the crippling debt of the McMaster Era and that will benefit him greatly during his RNC Chair run
By Mark Harbough on December 30th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
So true, Bobbvan… Sic- any chance on releasing those docs!?! Mande- can you be my virtual new years kiss?