Posted: July 16, 2009
OLYMPIA, WA - Last August, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire declared a
temporary ban on non-emergency state travel. It was later written
into state law. The restriction came in response to skyrocketing fuel
costs and the crumbling economy. The ban expired June 30th. But
recently released records show Gregoire and other state officials
took dozens of trips while the travel restriction was in place. Correspondent Austin Jenkins requested the records and has
this report.
Since December, Gregoire, a Democrat, has racked-up more than
seven thousand dollars in travel expenses. Mostly trips to
Washington, D.C. to meet with President Obama and members of
his administration. Her most expensive out-of-state foray was to
attend the National Governors Association meeting in February. That
bill came to nearly $2,500. Gregoire’s husband Mike also
went on that trip and taxpayers picked up his $500 plane
ticket. Not included in the public records disclosure is the cost for
Gregoire’s State Patrol security team to accompany her. Asked
about traveling outside the state despite her own ban on
non-emergency travel, Gregoire is unapologetic.
Gregoire: “You know I’ve spent the last four years not
being invited to the White House, not being part of the solution,
not being asked to give the perspective of the people of the State
of Washington."
The travel ban included an exception for trips defined as “critically
necessary” to the work of state government. Gregoire adds she will
continue to go to Washington, D.C. when President Obama calls.
Gregoire: “That’s good for Washington state, that’s good
for the people of this state.”
Gregoire wasn’t the only one hitting the road despite the travel
ban. A list from the Governor’s budget office shows state officials
were cleared for more than a hundred trips just since February.
Destinations ranged from Oregon to Japan. Much of the travel
appears to have been for training or conferences, and some of it
may have been paid for by third parties. Republican State Senator
Mark Schoesler says he’s “disappointed” the Gregoire administration
didn’t take the ban more seriously.
Schoesler: “I think it has been a little bit loose. And I
think we have to say no and mean it to have credibility with the
public. If we don’t say no and mean it on the little things how will
the public ever believe us on the big items?”
Governor Gregoire did end up reimbursing taxpayers for one trip.
That was to attend President Obama’s inauguration back in January.
Copyright 2009 KUOW