Some Sanford trips were taxpayer-paid

[jefferson_dem]

Some Sanford trips were taxpayer-paid
By: Kenneth P. Vogel
June 24, 2009 07:22 PM EST

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has taken at least three taxpayer-paid trips to Argentina, however, it’s unclear whether he met his girlfriend during any of them.

At his news conference in Columbia Wednesday, Sanford said he paid for his most recent trip with is own money. “It was my own ticket,” he told reporters.

But sometime after his 2002 election as governor, Sanford traveled to Argentina on the dime of the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Though it’s unclear precisely when the trip occurred, it likely would have taken place after he had met the woman. Sanford said Wednesday he met the woman eight years ago, though a romantic relationship did not develop until one year ago.

Sanford also traveled to China and Brazil through the state commerce department, and a review of its records late last year by state press found that taxpayers footed a total bill of $21,488 in Sanford travel. The governors’ office also spent $1,976 in travel for Sanford, according to the review.

In his January 2007 State of the State address, Sanford used changing air travel times between Miami and Buenos Aires as an example of technological innovations being carried out in his state.

<SNIP>

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24164.html