Sanford Used State Plane For Personal Trips
Already under fire for using taxpayer money to pay for first class plane tickets and luxurious hotel accommodations (perks he forbade his Cabinet employees from enjoying), S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford now finds himself at the heart of a major scandal involving his use of South Carolina’s official state plane.
And unlike his frequent first class upgrades, this time it certainly appears that the governor has explicitly violated state law pertaining to the use of this taxpayer-owned aircraft.
According to a detailed investigation conducted by the Associated Press, Sanford used South Carolina’s state-owned Beechcraft King Air for a variety of personal and political purposes that clearly fall outside the boundaries of permissible use.
From the AP investigation:
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.
Wow. How the “frugal” have fallen.
The latest travel-related bombshell to drop since Sanford admitted his affair with Argentine lover Maria Belen Chapur, this story (written by reporter Jim Davenport) has Sanford dead to rights. The hair salon trip, in particular, is meticulously documented so as to remove any reasonable doubt about Sanford’s reason for flying your friendly skies.
The taxpayer tab for Sanford’s flight to make his hair appointment? $1,265.00.
Already on the ropes after the first round of travel-related stories broke, it’s safe to say that the myth of Sanford’s frugality has officially imploded at this point. He has also emboldened his many political enemies and burned through what little capital he may have had left with fiscal conservative allies.
Our founding editor put us on record calling for Sanford’s resignation since the beginning of the Chapur scandal.
Little did we know at the time how right we were.
Sanford should step down immediately and spare the state any further embarrassment.
Comments
By Eliminate 1/2 of SC State Waste on August 9th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
But unfortunately you and the AP focus on a minute portion of it that is comparable to Beasley, Hodges and others if even true at all…
The loyalty that you show your former friend and boss that gave you all you have to this day is so admirable. Some friendships are vastly overrated…
If we eliminated have the waste in SC State Government, there would be no unfunded programs for the poor, no one hungry a good public education is the only thing that has no chance of success ever!
By fitsnews on August 9th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Mr. Sewell, we presume? Why don’t you go back to getting drunk by the pool and threatening to “expose” people on your website that nobody reads anymore.
-FITS
By anonymous on August 9th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
In South Carolina, governors are able to use aircraft run by different agencies: …and smaller, slower propeller-driven planes managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
As governor, Sanford has flown 353 hours aboard the larger plane and an additional “73 hours on the smaller, propeller planes” managed by SCDNR
And the law required the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources agency to keep official statements on flights, which it never has. WHICH IT NEVER HAS!
SC Governors appoint the entire board for the Natural Resourses Board, the Board overseeing the SCDNR, a state agency.
The media should be sending FOIA requests to SCDNR, they may just find a big hairball of improprieties and a rats nest of corruption.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gSMfxKHMoO1OFs6QNK17IRNRWbGQD99VF7J00
By Ham on August 9th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Andre has used the state plane in the same manner.
By Commonman on August 9th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Gotta go, gotta go. This is getting ridiculous. Wasn’t it Bill Clinton who held up the plane for a haircut and caught a little heck about it? This is wrong regardless of who does it. It is getting boring listening to people defend this Governor by comparing him to others who have done wrong. Wrong is wrong. Mark Sanford? Gotta go, gotta go.
By Brandon on August 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Wow our government is corrupt. One would expect another drama queen such as Andre would have stepped up and said what he had to say. My guess is he is afraid off all the dirt that will be brought up on him i.e. lines of coke off of strippers’ tits with Mark and Ravenel.
By ethel krabitz on August 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
probably the tip of the iceberg.
South Carolina was conned by Mark Sanford for years.
under that bible thumping, gentleman farmer facade, he’s just another trashy shyster who chases poontang and steals from people.
I sure dont appreciate my dime being used for a freaking haircut.
his hair never looked good anyway.
By Nathan Rice on August 9th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I have been on Sanford’s side since the sex scandal broke. I absolutely don’t think it’s right for a public servant to have to resign because of something he did in his bedroom.
But, as time goes on and things are brought to light, I’m losing confidence in my “principled” Governor. I still won’t call for him to resign. As others have pointed out, he’s not the first, and won’t be the last, to misuse taxpayer funds, but I’m certainly not as big a fan as I used to be.
Sorry Governor, I wanted to support you. Your ideas were fantastic. I just wish — for once — that a politician would act according to all his ideals.
By Richard on August 9th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Seems that the governor’s pigs have finally come home to root!
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on August 9th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
His frugality is a myth. He takes being full of shit to a new level, even for a pol. He needs to resign today.
By stimulus on August 9th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
maybe we can use the stimulus money to buy another state plane!
By Share on August 9th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I have to ditto Ethel. Additionally, he is not King David nor is he the “chosen” that he likely personifies himself to be. Why do we continue to support these jerks? Are we naive?
By rick beltram on August 9th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Fits:
Wow! The beat just goes on.
Can the SCGOP tolerate any more damage?
I am shocked that the Spartanburg County GOP has been so quiet…..they have professed “principles” as the key ingredient to future success.
What now?
RSB
By anonymous on August 9th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
RAW: Interview with John Crangle of Common Cause about Governor Mark Sanford
Great Interview …if any one person should watch this interview, it should be Reggie Lloyd
http://www.wistv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4027894&h1=RAW%3A%20Interview%20with%20John%20Crangle%20from%20Common%20Cause%20about%20Sanford%20revelations&vt1=v&at1=Political&d1=625400&LaunchPageAdTag=Political&activePane=info&rnd=11417262
**********************
By Jericho on August 9th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
It is becoming obvious Sanford thinks he is indeed the “chosen one”. He thinks of himself as bulletproof. Plane trips for a haircut, a lover in South America, and “God” only knows what else.
I am afraid if we make him resign, we will all be punished with decades of famine and disease of Biblical proportions.
By anonymous on August 9th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Mr. Sanford,
Sir, have you seen the AP report about your personal use of state aircraft? uh uh uh well yeah, what’s the problem?
Sir, it’s been reported that you have routinely used state aircraft, large and small for personal travel, what do you have to say about this and please answer the question? uh uh uh well, there has been no misuse of the plane and the AP misrepresented me … they misrepresented me …uh uh uh …wait let me finish…
Sir, the report shows that you have flown 353 hours aboard the larger plane and an additional 73 hours on the smaller, propeller planes , for a total cost of nearly $373,000? What gives sir? Well, uh uh uh …”The context is key about the plane …I have used the plane less than anyone else….
Sir, what do you mean, context? Look, I have only used the planes 129 times …uh uh uh … and I stand behind my usage of the state planes…
Sir, what about the times you used state airplanes for your children’s sporting events, hair and dentist appointments, political party gatherings and a birthday party for a campaign donor? What about these trips sir? Hey, I needed a haircut and uh ….uh, they misrepresented me and uh, write this down, there was no misuse of the state airplanes, no misuse….
Sir, what about the time you flew to Columbia from Myrtle Beach for the sole purpose of getting a haircut? Don’t you think that was a little excessive? Hey, I told you I needed a haircut and besides there was no misuse there…everyone knows that I’m a thrifty person and that was a discount hair salon, I saved a lot of money on that haircut uh uh uh, so it all works out in the end….
Sir, what about all those Thanksgiving trips with the family? uh uh uh no misuse!
Sir, what about the time you flew to Mt. Pleasant for a Dentist appointment? uh uh uh no misuse.
Sir, what about the time you flew to Greenville for a kiddie soccer game and political fund raiser? uh uh uh no misuse, besides that King Air twin turboprop run by the Aeronautics Division that can seat nine passengers, man it’s a really nice airplane…
Sir, in the AP report, there are so many trips that you have taken I really don’t have time to ask about them all, it’s kind of like the wild west? Fun huh! It was really fun…man was that fun…
Sir, are you concerned at all that the misuse of state resources may lead to as much as a $5,000 fine and five years in prison for each violation? Nope, not concerned at all, besides Reggie has problems of his own right now …. hehehe …uh uh u h…
Sir, what do you mean? Hey, Reggie’s in my back pocket, you don’t need to worry about a thing, everything is going to be fine …and besides all the records have been destroyed…uh uh uh …
Sir, are you saying that the laws are not going to be enforced in this state? Yep, everything is going to be fine….
Sir, do you understand the difference between personal use and private use? Of course I do, personal use is when I use the airplane and the rest is none of your business ….it’s simple….
Sir, this situation seems out of control and needs to be completely overhauled? Hey, I gotta go, the pilots are telling me I can’t talk right now, my cell phone is interfering with the control tower communications …listen we are getting cleared for takeoff, gotta go, gotta go! uh uh uh wait, let me finish…
By Sam on August 9th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
DNR is a snake pit. They have been thumbing their noses at state laws and procedures for years.
They waste more money in a week than Sanford can piss away in a year.
Senator Thomas…the ball is in your court.
By Joke on August 9th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/09/gov-sanford-used-state-ai_n_254983.html
By Joke on August 9th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Is this not misconduct worthy of an impeachable offense?
By Joke on August 9th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
And this is especially shameful given the state of affairs in SC, namely the poverty level and one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, among other embarrassing problems too numerous to name here. Taking a trip to Europe (what’s wrong with his million-dollar beach house?) is equally poorly conceived in the current climate and shows a lack of sensitivity, at best, towards the plight of most of the families this hippocritical governor took an oath to serve. And if Jenny truly wants privacy, she should quit sending out press releases announcing her every move. SC is fed up with both of them. File for divorce and move on. Why should SC taxpayers, who’ve already been ripped off by the governor as the AP article shows, have to pay a salary to a person who is too busy trying to focus on his family and not his job? Props to Sen. David Thomas for being principled enough to try to uncover the truth, to FITS, and to the AP for bringing this latest example of the governor’s hipocrasy to light.
By calhoun fawls on August 10th, 2009 at 1:52 am
I said it a few months ago, and I will say again, welcome to the big leagues Mr. Sanford. You wanted to be President. You bought a ticket for this train.
By SC Moderate on August 10th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Fitsnews needs to have a page keeping tabs- or a rolling list- of which members of the General Assembly are willing to publicly call for Sanford to resign… and which ones have not! And which of our US Senators and US Reps.
By Maria BeLen Chapur on August 10th, 2009 at 8:12 am
I have arrived in the United States of AMERICA .
I am here to claim my rights to my citizenship.
Yes I am Maria Be Len Chapur
Yes I am ( the ) problem ( how do you solve a problem like Maria) Be =is
Len Chapur
Liz Shepherd
say it folks
figure it out.
SOCIAL SECURITY WAS PRIVATIZED
MARK SANFORD MADE ME A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN AND I AM HERE TO CLAIM MY GOD GIVEN BIRTH RIGHTS
END OF STORY
ENDGAME MARK
By Jeffy on August 10th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Please let it be the end of the story Liz. Please. Hey I hear there are some really cool SC blogs just dying to have you join up. You could maybe leave this one alone for a year or two?
You seem extra angry today. Did you get abducted by UFOs AGAIN this weekend. You know those aliens are real V streeters too!
By Jove on August 10th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Let them eat cake? The poor bastards cant help themselves. They must be strung up to remind them having millions of their own money doesnt allow them to jet around on our dime. We are TRILLIONS in debt and yet the majority of us still act like the problem lies with the other party. Look at the way they fawn over Ms.Palin or Mr. Mack in fla. Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Frank, LOL Senator Kennedy ( this US senator left a woman upside down in a vehicle under water and kept his job?)… Public servants indeed. By hatchet, axe and saw.
By Mark Smith on August 10th, 2009 at 10:25 am
All this is starting to sound like a witch hunt to find something on Sanford. It does sound like a lot of our elected leaders doing the old “do as I say, not as I do” line. I believe that Sanford should have resigned but it looks like he is in for the long haul, unless a “witch” pops up somewhere.
By Ellis on August 10th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Sanford is a bum.
The witch hunt to run him out of office is being run by people that will benefit from a Bauer governorship. The favors will flow and the influence will be peddled and all of that adds up to big money.
A pox on both their houses.
By Frank on August 10th, 2009 at 11:01 am
It’s senators like Jakie Knotts who stands infront of news camreas and tells all how imoral and corrupt someone is but when you simply break it down, it is Jakie knotts telling on himself but using others to discribe himself. Jakie Knotts is begging for someone to catch him, but he thinks that no one is paying any attention, so he will continue to destroy others lives and character until someone turns the attention he is so begging for onto him.
By Snead on August 10th, 2009 at 11:57 am
But South Carolina should trust all the other so-called fiscal conservatives you fluff on this site? Just admit your idol is a representative of the whole corrupt elite running this state. You’re only upset he got caught.
By follydude on August 10th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
this is a real hoot!
from the Office of the Governor’s site titled “Waste of the Day” from last week:
##
Tuesday’s Waste of the Day: State Airplane Proviso
In light of the budget cuts, the Department of Commerce proposed downsizing the operations of the state plane and maintenance team to avoid cuts in airport planning or using one-time accounts to pay for ongoing services. The savings proposal would have:
- Reduced the number of pilots from three to two. Two pilots just retired this year and only one has been hired as a replacement. Commerce proposed contracting for a back up pilot rather than hiring a third full time pilot. Savings: $115,905.
- Contracted out the maintenance work. Savings: $133,998.
- Relocated operations from the hangar Aeronautics staff currently occupies. Commerce proposed relocating the flight operations to a rented hangar and the planning department to the Department of Commerce office on Main Street. The hangar and land would be sold and the proceeds would be returned to the Aeronautics Commission. Further, the relocation would add annual savings to the operations of the agency for utility costs. Savings: $113,600.
Total savings: $363,503.
##
you can’t make this up…
By anonymous on August 10th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
SC state senator calls for probe of Sanford’s plane use
The call for an official probe Monday from Camden Sen. Vincent Sheheen follows an Associated Press investigation that found the Republican governor used state planes to go to personal and partisan political events. State aircraft are supposed to be used only for state business.
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090810/ARTICLES/908109990/1083/ARTICLES?Title=SC-state-senator-calls-for-probe-of-Sanford-s-plane-use-
By corblu800 on August 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Self-described fiscal conservatives who aren’t screaming for this guy’s resignation are just revealing their own hypocrisy. (Eliminate is a perfect example.) All that’s left is for the rest of us to speculate on their real motivations, ’cause it obviously ain’t to lower government spending.
Misusing the state plane for personal benefit and partisan politics is illegal – couldn’t be clearer that he’s done that many times. Traveling in luxury may not be strictly illegal, but obviously not fiscally responsible, and he’s clearly done that as well. (BTW, how much of those two things did you personally see, yet not call him on, while you were there Sic?)
I couldn’t care less who Marshall sparks on his own time and dime, but he’s also clearly spent some of my money to do it. At the very, very least, we footed a $40 mini bar bill, so he could offer his soul mate a pre- or post-coital beverage or two; and we generously paid $200 so he could have extended use of a luxury hotel room on his first official sparking trip. But no doubt it’s way more than that. Anyone who doesn’t believe the entire Buenos Aires leg of that 2008 trip was arranged for the primary purpose of consummating his long-time emotional affair is either naive or dishonest. And you can bet the revelations aren’t over.
Sanford has to go. I’m no fan of Bauer, but you all voted him in, so he’s what we’ve got.
By CNSYD on August 10th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
This just in! Reggie has completed a detailed investigation of the flight logs and has found everything to be kosher. We can all go back to sleep now.
By Clint on August 10th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Folly Dude…
Thanks for posting about the future changes concerning the state plane. What really makes me angry is why the hell these obvious saving were not made long ago!!!
Virtually every program we examine is the same way. Our government is full of WASTE, fraud and abuse. The only “good” programs are the ones that have not been examined!
By PandaChris on August 10th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
McMaster or Bauer will win the GOP nomination for governor.
Nikki will lose big.
And the hypocrisy of Sanford and his supporters will be the ones to thank for the early death of the SC reform movement.
Fools!
By Pat McCright on August 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Well, it does seem that neither party has an exclusive right to hypocrisy. However, the inquiry is to Sanford’s use of the state plane, not previous governors (I’m sure no political party’s hands are clean in SC)
By ClemsonInsider on August 10th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
It is amazing what our Governor calls official business, but it pales in comparison to the fabrications Clemson President Jim Barker comes up with to justify his travel and use of the university plane. According to Clemson’s pilots, Barker is on the plane constantly. One rumor has it that he uses the plane to travel from Clemson to Anderson.
By shiya on August 10th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Sen. Thomas finds that Sanford broke the law..and this is just the first class trips.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ir_DL40QlRzCkC9bkfbQf_szTp5wD9A08HRO1
By CNSYD on August 10th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
ClemsonInsider, Think about what you said. Clemson to Anderson. First you have to drive in the opposite direction to get to Oconee International. Then you land at the Anderson airport which is out in the sticks. I bet you dollars to dog turds I could drive from Sikes to downtown Anderson faster than you could get there by flying.
By anonymous on August 10th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Waldo’s schedule for this week:
Gov. Mark Sanford’s weekly schedule was issued Monday afternoon by his staff:
Monday: ‘Open Door After 4′ meetings.
Tuesday: Cabinet meeting at 9:30am.
Wednesday: Batesburg-Leesville Rotary Club at 7:15am.
Thursday: Budget and Control Board meeting.
Friday: Air Force Reserve duty.
By anonymous on August 10th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
The Tsunami That Is Mark Sanford’s Life
When it rains it pours. Unless you’re Mark Sanford of course, in which case, it’s a tsunami.
It wasn’t enough to just get caught with his Argentinean mistress while he was supposed to be roughing it in the Appalachian wilderness or having his wife announce she’s leaving him shortly after their two-week European jaunt to repair the marriage failed to fix anything except the delusion that Jenny may still want Mark back.
No, no Mark needed more to really make 2009 stand out as the opposite of that lame Russell Crowe movie and qualify as the worst year of one painfully unslick South Carolina governor’s life.
Luckily, he got just what he needed. Turns out Mr. stimulus-rejecting welfare queen Mark Sanford improperly used state aircraft for personal and political trips, even carting around those god-awful wife and kids–all in violation of state law. Yikes!
And you thought banging South American hotties on the sly was the only improper thing this tight-fisted, wasteful-spending hating Republican star governor of South Carolina was capable of. Puh-leese!
He knows how to squander state funds with the best of ‘em! Like taking private jet’s to his kid’s sporting events, all-important hair and dentist appointments, book signings, birthday parties, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, and other pressing, high-level state functions.
What he will not do however is accept federal stimulus money for something frivolous like South Carolina’s public schools. Not until every last state employee uses both sides of their Post-It notes and understands the importance of stretching every dollar as far as it goes.
All the way to Buenos Aires if you’re really good.
http://www.examiner.com/x-15931-Chicago-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m8d10-The-Tsunami-That-Is-Mark-Sanfords-Life
***
By Jeffy on August 10th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Liz says that Voltar from planet x has not investigated her claims. Maybe he kidnapped Sanford, teleported to C street, and then ignored Liz. That’s what Reggie Lloyd should look into, why Liz hasn’t been treated right!!!
By uscjustice on August 11th, 2009 at 1:10 am
President Pastides uses the USC plane to fly from Columbia to Orangeburg, and routinely to fly to Charleston/MUSC. And, of course, flying the trustees to all away football games. Barker has nothing on him.
By CNSYD on August 11th, 2009 at 9:51 am
uscjustice, I think you may find that both Clemson and USC athletic departments own planes that were bought with booster funds. This may be the plane that Pastides flies trustees to away games on. Those flights would be funded by non taxpayer dollars.
By MKinVA on August 11th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Says PandaChris: “And the hypocrisy of Sanford and his supporters will be the ones to thank for the early death of the SC reform movement.
Fools!” The reform movement could save itself and maybe even get a boost if they would adopt Sanford as a pet project. Instead of trying to give him cover, use him as an example of waste in government!
By baker on August 11th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I don’t know that this airplane controversy is such a big deal.
It is just that Mark Sanford had been so sanctimonious about government waste and what a groovy, frugal guy he is and all that.