The Tolbert Report

Well it looks like my long hiatus from blogging is over.  Several months ago Jason asked me to contribute some posts to his blog since his schedule was heating up due to tax season and the birth of his youngest child.  Well things have slowed down for him and my blogging slowed to a trickle and then to a stop.  However the other day Jason asked me if I wanted to write something up about the Dustin McDaniel travel situation.

Over the weekend the Arkansas Democrat Gazette broke a story about the use of a Department of Corrections plane that has been used frequently by Attorney General Dustin McDaniel.  It wasn’t just that the Attorney General used the plane but that he also didn’t pay for it taxpayers didn’t pay for it until the Democrat Gazette started looking into it.  The Department of Corrections has taken responsibility saying they neglected to the McDaniel’s office a bill.

I’m not going to gripe about the late payment.  People make mistakes and I believe the staff of the Department of Corrections.  What I have a problem with is with McDaniel’s quote when asked about this.  McDaniel, as quoted in the Sunday edition of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, stated “People like to see their mayor and their congressman and their governor and their attorney general and they don’t think that should be confined to just those folks who live within 20 miles of the Capitol.  They want to see you all over the state and I’ve tried to make myself available.”  I realize that the Governor and to an extent the Lt. Governor have responsibilities that require their travel, and as a representative of the people it is good for them to mingle with us common folk.  Now I don’t know about you, but I would rather have my Attorney General working from his office in Little Rock, protecting the citizens of Arkansas, rather than puddle jumping around the state shaking hands.  That is what candidates do when they’re campaigning.  I think we would all feel the same way if the State Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary of State or Land Commissioner started flying all of the state for speaking engagements and sending the bill to the taxpayer.

While I disagree with the Attorney General traveling so much on the taxpayer dime, I do appreciate him using the less expensive plane to try and save money.  It is expected that from time to time it may be necessary for the Attorney General to travel, and it is fair that the state pay for it.  However I wish these trips would be limited to official business and not simply speaking at every convention or get-together to which he’s invited.