S.C. governor’s air trips faulted

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 a discount hair salon.

Also, on five of the last six Thanksgiving weekends, Sanford used a state plane to fly himself, his wife, and their four sons from the family’s plantation in Beaufort County to Columbia for the state Christmas tree lighting. The cost for those flights: $5,536, including $2,869 for flying the plane empty to pick them up.

Sanford, 49, has been under increased scrutiny since he admitted in June to having a mistress in Argentina.

The governor has made a political career out of being outwardly thrifty - known to demand that state employees use both sides of Post-It notes. He has frequently railed against government spending, and attempted to block federal stimulus money for South Carolina schools.

Last month, the AP revealed how Sanford had flown first class and business class on airlines at taxpayer expense, despite a law requiring lowest-cost travel.