Sanford cites precedent for travel policy

August 12, 2009|Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford yesterday justified his use of state planes for personal trips in which he often brought along his wife and four sons, saying his taxpayer-funded travel was no different from that of his predecessors.

“I’ve got a busy life, and I’ve tried as best I can - within the context of the current mess-up, that has been more than well chronicled, and more than well talked about - to be a reasonable father, while at the same time, being a good governor,’’ Sanford said in response to questions from reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

An Associated Press investigation found that Sanford used state aircraft for personal and political trips, contrary to state law regarding official use. Records reviewed by AP showed 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 many occasions, records showed, the governor mingled his non-official travels with official business. He used the state plane in March 2006 to travel from Myrtle Beach to Columbia at a cost of $1,265 - when his calendar showed his only appointment in Columbia was “personal time’’ at his hair salon. He had flown to Myrtle Beach on a private plane.

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