Republican Governor Mark Sanford.
Fiscal and social "conservative," right?
Horse Hockey.

Sanford's use of state plane questioned

By JIM DAVENPORT - Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford used state aircraft
for personal and political trips, often bringing along his wife and
children - contrary to state law regarding official use, an Associated
Press investigation has found.

According to state budget law, "Any and all aircraft owned or operated
by agencies of the State Government shall be used only for official
business."

Records reviewed by the AP show that since he took office in 2003, the
two-term Republican has taken trips on state aircraft to locations of
his children's sporting events, hair and dentist appointments, political
party gatherings and a birthday party for a campaign donor.

On March 10, 2006, a state plane was sent to pick up Sanford in Myrtle
Beach and return him to Columbia, the state capital, at a cost of $1,265
- when his calendar showed his only appointment in Columbia was
"personal time" at his favorite discount hair salon. He had flown to
Myrtle Beach on a private plane and attended a county GOP event.

The trip home on the state aircraft took off at 1:50 p.m. and arrived in
Columbia at 2:35, enabling the governor to keep his plans for a 3 p.m.
haircut across town. There were no other appointments on his official
schedule that afternoon; the trip back to Columbia would have taken
about three hours by car.

Also, on five of the last six Thanksgiving weekends, Sanford used a
state plane to fly himself, his wife and their four sons from the
family's plantation in Beaufort County to Columbia for the state
Christmas tree lighting. The cost for those flights alone: $5,536,
including $2,869 for flying the plane empty to pick them up.

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/895405.html

--- Xnews/5.04.25