South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford flew first class at taxpayer expense to see his mistress

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http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/07/18/despite_claim_of_frugality_sanford_flew_in_style_at_taxpayer_expense/

Despite claim of frugality, Sanford flew in style at taxpayer expense

One trip included time with mistress

By Brett J. Blackledge and Jim Davenport
Associated Press / July 18, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina shed his fiscal conservatism on several taxpayer-funded international trips, including a South American jaunt that included time with his mistress, choosing expensive first-class or business-class seats while his aides sat in coach.

Sanford, who once criticized other state officials for costly travel, charged the state more than $37,600 for one first-class and four business-class flights overseas since November 2005, expense records show. Other state employees flew in the back of the plane at a fraction of the price, according to the documents.

The Republican governor, who balked at taking federal stimulus money after arguing it was an unwise use of taxpayer funds, charged the state $8,687 for a Delta Airlines trip to Brazil last year that included a leg in business class, state expense records show.

That trip ended with the governor’s now well-publicized visit to his Argentine mistress, Maria Belen Chapur, and marked what he says was the start of a nearly yearlong sexual affair with the woman he has called his “soul mate.’’

[sakabatou]

1. Typical Republican hypocrisy

[Ikonoklast]

2. I'm in the middle of writing a grant proposal to submit to the South Carolina

Legislature to underwrite my shenanigans at taxpayer expense. I promise to keep expenses low, nothing more than a few bucks for dinner at a nice place, and a movie, say, four times a month.

No out-of-country trips staying at five-star hotels and eating at world-class restaurants on the taxpayer dime for me, by golly. Heck, I don't even draw a salary paid by the public, so I should get some credit for that, right there.

They should give me the green light on this one. Chump change compared to the taxpayer dinero Sanford went through.