Posted on 09/12/2014 2:59:03 PM PDT by jazusamo
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) found that over $33,700 in campaign flights were inappropriately charged to her official account in an internal review of her finances released Friday.
The report is sure to draw added scrutiny to her use of charter planes just as her main opponent, Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), is set to introduce a resolution meant to highlight such spending, which he calls a "waste of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars."
The review
, which was released four days after her self-imposed deadline of Sept. 8, found that the senator took 43 trips, which amounted to 136 campaign functions, that were paid for by funds meant for official business only. Eleven percent of the total amount Landrieu’s office paid for chartered flights should have been paid out of her campaign funds, the review found.
Landrieu’s office said she fully reimbursed the Treasury with campaign funds and has notified the Senate Ethics Committee of the errors. She also said in a statement that she’s implemented a new bookkeeping system to prevent similar errors from happening again.
"The review I ordered last month found these mistakes stemming from sloppy book keeping. I take full responsibility. They should have never happened, and I apologize for this," Landrieu said. "A new system has been established that has been successfully used by a number of senate offices to provide a safeguard from this happening in the future."
Landrieu ordered the internal review after it was reported that she inappropriately used $3,200 in official funds to pay for a flight to and from a campaign event in November. That report sparked criticism from Republicans, and inspired an attack ad that claimed Landrieu "lives like a movie star."
The release of Landrieu’s internal review again prompted Republicans to hammer Landrieu on the issue.
"With 43 illegal flights and more than 100 campaign events, this was clearly policy of her office to use taxpayer means whenever possible to attend events," said Louisiana Republican Party Executive Director Jason Dore. "Mary's staff has changed. The donors have changed. The one thing that has been constant is this is Mary Landrieu's office. She's the one responsible for this practice going on in her office."
Cassidy's bill would require members of Congress to report any funds used to pay for private chartered planes to the Ethics Committee or the Committee on House Administration within 30 days of the flight.
“Taking charter planes unnecessarily is a waste of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars. It makes no sense to fly on a $3,000 private jet if you can get to the same location in a few hours’ drive time and a $50 tank of gas,” he said in a statement obtained by The Hill. “Washington’s spending is out of control and this is one of the reasons why. Ensuring that Washington is transparent and tax dollars are spent wisely is a priority.”
Cassidy’s office said the congressman had received dozens of calls from constituents alarmed by Landrieu’s use of chartered planes, which had partially inspired the resolution.
Landrieu remains one of Democrats’ most vulnerable senators, and the most recent poll showed a tight race, with Cassidy leading Landrieu by two points. Many expect the three-way primary fight, between Cassidy, Landrieu and Tea Party-backed Rob Maness, to head to a runoff this fall.
Polling shows a tight race.
I’d bet the numbers would be staggering if previous year’s totals would have been figured in. If she just now “found” this, the practice has been going on for a long while.
Agreed...This charter flight thing is really going overboard and then they charge taxpayers for them.
She reminds me of Pelosi when she was Speaker, of course many more probably pull the same stuff.
Claire McCaskill to pay back taxes on plane (Politico)
Sen. Claire McCaskill sells ‘damn plane’ (Politico)
Can Claire McCaskill weather her plane problem?(Wash Post)
'Air Claire' Scandal Turns: McCaskill Ponies Up $287K In Back Taxes (TPM)
Yet another of the criminal class.
Ah yes, had forgotten about her.
Silly. She's no criminal.
She simply doesn't have to follow the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, as do ordinary people.
After all, if everyone ignored the IRS, where would we get the money to pay her salary? How would her pension and health benefits be funded?
I’d bet the numbers would be staggering if previous year’s totals would have been figured in.
***************
This audit goes back to 2002 and includes underpayment of flights from that time forward.
2002 is when the mixed travel payments began.
http://www.marylandrieu.com/pdf/M.-Landrieu-Plane-Submission.pdf
43 inappropriately funded trips? OMG! Who does she think she is, The First ‘Lady’?
You had ‘Air Claire’ we in California had ‘Barbara-Bouncer’ during Boxer’s check-kiting days.
Eric Holder had a trip with family and his daughters boyfriends or something, he “reimbursed” the taxpayers less than 10% of the cost.
That should be a crime.
I'll vote for RINO Cassidy in the general election if I have to, but it will be with severe nose holding, spitting and a little cussing.
Maness towers above Cassidy as to being a true conservative.
I’m with you, FRiend.
La. politics. I prey “she gone” but you know how it goes in the swamp. She ought to be joining chocolate city ray in the fed big house.
Doesn’t matter, shes a dem.
Seems like hard times have fallen on old school bus Ray, LOLOLOL!!!!
If she ain't gone this time, I give up on Louisiana and I'm pure, 100% Cajun.
Just who the hell do these public servants think they are? With the massive public debt, I could in no way live it up on the taxpayers dime. I’d feel guilty. These people have no conscience. They ought to be hung for abuse of sacred public money and malfeasance.
great question, I agree
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.