$3,600 for $8,000 Paterson flight? Governor's political staff set to pay steep discount for flight until questioned
By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau First published in print: Saturday, July 25, 2009
ALBANY - Six months after using the state plane to fly with aides and family to President Barack Obama's inauguration, Gov. David Paterson is paying at least part of the bill.
The governor's political staff planned to pay $3,600 for the airfare from his campaign account on Friday, until the Times Union pointed out the discount of about $4,400 of the $8,000 that experts said was the estimated cost of the plane.
The governor's campaign said it used a State Police calculation to arrive at a bill for his party's flight on Jan. 17 and return trip on Jan. 21 aboard the state's King Air 350.
Paterson's state aides jumped into the story late Friday to promise more may be paid after a recalculation is concluded.
The trip required State Police pilots to essentially make four trips with multiple legs as the plane moved between White Plains, New York City, Washington, Albany, Washington and New York City. The campaign cut a check Friday after the Times Union asked why a reimbursement did not show up on the campaign disclosure filings for expenses during the first six months of 2009. The disclosures were due earlier this month. The report showed the campaign had failed to pay the state for the flight during the period, although it did show $28,182 in reimbursement for hotels and meals from the inauguration travel. The governor promised to repay all costs associated with the trip after the newspaper tallied the bills available and sought required justification for the expenses earlier this year.
Tracy Sefl, a campaign spokeswoman, said a $3,600 check was cut to cover the flights. She directed questions about the airfare cost to the State Police, whose spokesman said it used cost consultants Conklin & DeDecker's formula. Sgt. Kern Swoboda was unable to provide the variables used to calculate the cost or other details. ..................>>>>>................>>>>..........http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=824287
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
