A Columbia, S.C. television station has published a sprawling report examining the extent to which elected officials in the Palmetto State are abusing the state’s two taxpayer-funded aircraft. And while most of the information contained in the WIS TV 10 (NBC – Columbia, S.C.) report has already been covered by other outlets – including this exclusive report published by FITS – the station does a good job of pulling a lot of previous stories together into one broad treatment.
It also exposes the total lack of accountability over the process – including a statement from the head of the S.C. Division of Aeronautics in which he acknowledges that there is no official definition of “state business” to govern use of the plane.
Crazy, huh?
As a result we have S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell – who is in all sorts of other plane-related trouble – using one of the state aircraft to fly to the 2012 Apple Festival in Westminster, South Carolina.
Harrell isn’t alone in abusing the plane – S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley has repeatedly used it for political purposes. And of course there’s former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, who habitually abused this privilege.
As we’ve previously suggested, the state should sell these aircraft, put the proceeds into a taxpayer rebate fund (assuming lawmakers ever create one) and then insist on tighter state travel guidelines aimed at ending the rampant abuse we’ve seen from our elected officials.
Otherwise we will continue to see our leaders wasting our money on frivolous travel …
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38 comments
I wonder how much state aircraft have been sexually abused, too. The new owner(s) of any state aircraft would do well to use a black light and some bleach and water mixture on the cum stains found in the upholstery.
Oh my! Stains? Who wants to buy that!?!
A doctor examined an airline pilot, asking him, “When was the last time you had sex?”
The pilot answered, “About 1955.”
The doctor asked, “So long ago?”
The pilot said, “That wasn’t too long ago.” He looked at his watch and went on, “It’s only 2120.”
That was good, Shifty!!!! I’m curious to see how the censors react to the one I told on the article about the TB issue in Greenwood on The State’s site.
Thanks–most folks may not get the time joke…it’s always fun to post a joke when there is a setup………
That was a slam drunk!
thanks….
I guess Mike opted out of the cinnamon at 10 paces.
Max, what caused you to look back at this article?
I was embarrassed at the dumb pun, and it became so intense I looked up the post.
only if she doesn’t swallow….
I wonder how much state aircraft have been sexually abused, too. The new owner(s) of any state aircraft would do well to use a black light and some bleach and water mixture on the cum stains found in the upholstery.
Oh my! Stains? Who wants to buy that!?!
A doctor examined an airline pilot, asking him, “When was the last time you had sex?”
The pilot answered, “About 1955.”
The doctor asked, “So long ago?”
The pilot said, “That wasn’t too long ago.” He looked at his watch and went on, “It’s only 2120.”
That was good, Shifty!!!! I’m curious to see how the censors react to the one I told on the article about the TB issue in Greenwood on The State’s site.
Thanks–most folks may not get the time joke…it’s always fun to post a joke when there is a setup………
only if she doesn’t swallow….
Oh boy, sell the planes and put the proceeds in a taxpayer rebate fund. You know, the fund that Sic Willie continuously touts but ignores stating how it would work. Well lets try this one out. Sell the planes and then divide the proceeds by the total number of 2012 SC taxpayers. That ought to net each one of us how much?
$ .69
Once they sell the planes, they will charter aircraft and invoice the state. We need to be careful in what we ask for. Then follow the money……….
Oh boy, sell the planes and put the proceeds in a taxpayer rebate fund. You know, the fund that Sic Willie continuously touts but ignores stating how it would work. Well lets try this one out. Sell the planes and then divide the proceeds by the total number of 2012 SC taxpayers. That ought to net each one of us how much?
$ .69
Once they sell the planes, they will charter aircraft and invoice the state. We need to be careful in what we ask for. Then follow the money……….
Jody Barr’s interview with Harrell was a hoot. Harrell was trying to explain that he’s so fucking important that he couldn’t disappoint the fine attendees of the Apple Festival by being absent from such an event. Then he said there was no other way he could get there.
I’m pretty sure there are roads in the Golden Corner. In fact, I just drove up to Seneca by way of Six Mile from Columbia last week. It was a shitty state road, but a road nonetheless. Perhaps Harrell has forgotten what a car is.
Harrell is such a smug asshole – I wish we actually had ethics laws in this state so that prick would get convicted.
The WIS was just a rehash of old stuff. Why the hell cant a reporter in Cola actually stumble on a real story???
Jody Barr’s interview with Harrell was a hoot. Harrell was trying to explain that he’s so fucking important that he couldn’t disappoint the fine attendees of the Apple Festival by being absent from such an event. Then he said there was no other way he could get there.
I’m pretty sure there are roads in the Golden Corner. In fact, I just drove up to Seneca by way of Six Mile from Columbia last week. It was a shitty state road, but a road nonetheless. Perhaps Harrell has forgotten what a car is.
Harrell is such a smug asshole – I wish we actually had ethics laws in this state so that prick would get convicted.
The WIS was just a rehash of old stuff. Why the hell cant a reporter in Cola actually stumble on a real story???
Are Mile High Club meetings possible in a small plane……….If you aren’t a gymnast?
Wonder if Mark and Nimrata did the Mile High on the China trip?
King Airs aren’t that small, Bogie. They’re considered “cabin class” in the aviation world (I spent lots of time in them back in my fed days). Ours even had a bar and a pooper…
Are Mile High Club meetings possible in a small plane……….If you aren’t a gymnast?
Wonder if Mark and Nimrata did the Mile High on the China trip?
King Airs aren’t that small, Bogie. They’re considered “cabin class” in the aviation world (I spent lots of time in them back in my fed days). Ours even had a bar and a pooper…
So Bobby Fucktard can’t drive a car?
So Bobby Fucktard can’t drive a car?
Uh oh… Speaker again followed the law. Time for policy council storm troopers to have a press conference.
Uh oh… Speaker again followed the law. Time for policy council storm troopers to have a press conference.
easy fix. sell the plane. if people had to use money out of their own POLITICAL budgets, they might think twice before using a private plane. SC is not floating on money, b/c of the way ALL these yahoooo’s spend OUR money. let them drive or schedule their time more effectively, like the hard working tax paying citizens of SC