Haley Barbour takes heat for jet trips

[cal04]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/12/haley-barbour-takes-heat-for-j.html?wprss=44

Just a week after coming under fire for saying he didn't remember the civil-rights era being that bad, Politico reports that Mississippi governor and potential 2012 presidential candidate Haley Barbour (R) has been flying lavishly on the taxpayer's dime. According to records, Mississippi has spent $500,000 over the past three years on Barbour's air travel in a private Cessna jet. He has used the plane "to go to fundraisers for himself and other Republican candidates and committees, to football games and to at least one boxing match," Politico reports.
(http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46816.html)

On the afternoon of March 7, 2010, for instance, Barbour's state-owned plane arrived in Las Vegas to pick up the governor. The official purpose of the taxpayer-funded trip on state forms was a "project meeting," but Barbour had other reasons to be in Las Vegas.

According to the Mississippi Business Journal, Barbour had invited donors to his state political action committee to drive a stock car around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and then to join him and casino mogul Steve Wynn for drinks -- for a $5,000 contribution. The stop to pick up Barbour was not reimbursed to the state.

(Barbour spokesman Dan) Turner said it coincided with a necessary refueling stop, but POLITICO's review of the records show the plane also stopped in Lubbock, Tex., before picking up Barbour in Las Vegas.


Haley Barbour Uses State Plane As His Own Private Jet, Racking Up Massive Bill
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/27/barbour-jet/

[hobbit709]

1. It's Boss Hogg II

But dumber.

[katnapped]

3. He's a Republican, so...

Expect nothing to be said of it

[bobburgster]

6. Bah hahaha! Thank you!

I've been trying to put a name as to who he reminds me of for some time......it is most definitely Boss Hogg.

[Recursion]

7. This always happens to Mississippi's governor

Election after election the sitting governor is lambasted for his transportation costs; I remember when Fordice did the same thing to Ray Mabus in the 90s (Mabus is now the Secretary of the Navy, incidentally). The problem is in MS's bureaucracy; this probably isn't Barbour's fault any more than it was Mabus's. But, if it helps us win back the Governor's mansion, hammer away...

[spanone]

2. ...

[hobbit709]

4. They DO look alike don't they.

[tanyev]

5. Make the next trip a one-way out of the country and we'll call it a wash.