Posted on 05/02/2003 4:03:58 PM PDT by GailA
WSMV Nashville covers yearly junket by officials to exotic locales:
May 1, 2003
Sun, surf and sand. Open bar, seafood spreads and golf. Welcome to Destin, Florida. And a three-day conference of TIDC, the Tennesse Industrial Development Council. It's a non-profit partnership of private businesses and state and local officials.
They call this their "Spring Break" conference. When the I-Team watches, we see more break than conference. Here's the agenda: the conference opens with a "hospitality suite on the beach". The room behind where these people are standing? An open bar. Later that afternoon, an "early bird reception." More drinks, and a seafood buffet. Seminars? Not today.
On the second day, they get to work bright and early at 8:30, but by 11:30, they call it quits for the day. It's time for a "shrimp boil" and to re-open that "hospitality suite on the beach". At 1:00 there's a golf tournament.
It's early evening back at the hotel. Time for another seminar? No. It's time for another cocktail party, and a seafood dinner paid for in part by your state tax dollars.
The state's Department of Economic and Community Development paid $5,000 to help sponsor the conference and to pay conference fees and dues for ECD employees. State taxpayers also paid for ECD commissioner Matt Kisber to fly to Florida in the state plane with his family to give a presentation. The conference wrapped up the afternoon of the third day. Total time spent in sessions: less than 6 hours.
We confronted Commissioner Kisber at check-out time.
(Amons to Kisber) "Our viewers are going to say, that's a junket."
(Matt Kisber) "It's an important partnership."
Kisber says three of his staff members who came are paying their own hotel bills and taking vacation days to attend. And Kisber?
(Kisber) "Did I pay my own room? It's on my credit card." (Amons) "That's not what I'm asking you, are you going to ask the state to reimburse you?" (KIsber) "No, I will pay for my own room."
But that's not what the paperwork shows that he filed before he left. He asked for state reimbursement for room and meals for himself and his assistant.
Destin. It's lovely in the springtime. But - why Florida? These are all Tennessee officials. Why not spend those tourist dollars helping the Tennessee economy? We asked ECD's assistant commissioner GC Hixson, who helped plan the conference.
(GC Hixson) "I think it's best if you ask the board members." But he is a board member. And, as we reminded him, he was the one who seconded the motion to hold the conference in Florida. It's right there in the minutes of the October 2002 board meeting.
(Hixson) "I seconded the vote?"
A state economic development employee voting to hold a conference out of state.
(Kisber) "That is something I'll be honest with you, I was not a part of, and happened before I came on board."
And remember, this all comes at a time when department heads state wide including ECD, have been asked to cut their budgets by 9%.
Friday night, we'll tell you about several Tennessee businesses who've done work for the state and were asked by a state employee to help pay for the food and liquor at the Destin "Spring Break."
When you took office you issued an ethics policy for all government employees.
I have to assume that applies to Matt Kisber as well as all other government employees.
It seems Mr. Kisber took his FAMILY with him aboard the State air plane on his JUNKET to Destin, FLORIDA.
Since they spent more time partying than meeting I think that Mr. Kisber ought to reimburse the BROKE state of Tennessee for no only his room, meals and plane trip, but he DEFINITELY NEEDS to REIMBURSE the BROKE state of Tennessee for his FAMILIES room, meals, and plane trip.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH HOLDING CONFERENCES IN TENNESSEE CITIES, TO BOLSTER THE ECONOMY OF TENNESSEE?
THIS CONFERENCE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE VIA TELECONFERENCING THERE BY SAVING THE STATE MANY THOUANDS' OF DOLLARS.
OVER TAXED TAX SERFS
Dennis and Gail Keasling
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Keasling:
The Governor is traveling today and has asked that I respond to your concerns. He is aware of the report and has asked the appropriate people to look into the matter and keep him aprised.
Thank you for you concern.
Sincerely,
Margaret Horn
Director of Constituent Services
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