Kansas Meadowlark

Like Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, you’re against that dirty coal power plant in Western Kansas polluting our air with carbon dioxide? But being “green” is something for others especially when you can fly with the Governor on the State’s plane to a sports event?

Let’s start this story with a trip to New Orleans to watch KU in the NCAA Basketball Final Four in 2003. Wouldn’t you want to join Gov. Sebelius in this wonderful plane paid for by Kansas taxpayers:

The Governor’s Executive Airplane: N350KS

You’ve got to be a good friend of the governor to attend a sports event as part of Kansas “official business.” In 2003 the list of such “Friends of Kathleen” included:

• State Rep. Paul Davis (D, Lawrence) and wife, Shelley
• Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger (R), and husband, Mark
  [Sandy Praeger replaced Sebelius as Insurance Commissioner]
• Gov. Sebelius’ husband, Gary (a U.S. magistrate judge), and sons, John and Ned

And for protection on such “official business” as the NCAA Basketball tournament, as Governor you would invite:

• Eric Sauer, Protective Services Commander, Kansas Highway Patrol

The Kansas Highway Patrol documented this trip to New Orleans in their Daily Flight Report for the Executive Aircraft: (Note Davis’ wife is named “Sherry” instead of “Shelley”)

Let’s go back about two years to 2001, when the State of Kansas, WITHOUT legislative approval, purchased a $4.9 million plane to replace an aging aircraft.

From the Kansas City Star, Aug 30, 2001, “State buys executive airplane”:

The new plane, like its 16-year-old predecessor, will be used by the governor, other executive branch officials and lawmakers traveling on official business.

The new nine-seat, twin-engine turboprop had a purchase price of $4.9 million. Raytheon, the Wichita-based manufacturer, gave the state $1 million for its old airplane, and post-delivery modifications cost about $200,000. That made the final price $4,077,213. …

During the 2001 Legislature, buying a new executive aircraft was discussed, but with the state facing severe financial difficulties, no money was approved for the purchase.

[Secretary of Administration Dan] Stanley said he used existing funds under his control to make the first two payments that totaled about $1 million. The next payment will not be due until 2003.

… Stanely … leaves state service next week …

During the 2001 Legislature, buying a new executive aircraft was discussed, but with the state facing severe financial difficulties, no money was approved for the purchase.

Senate President Dave Kerr, a Hutchinson Republican, said he was aware there had been discussions about buying a new airplane, but he didn’t know it was a done deal until he received Stanley’s letter. …

“there certainly will be some questions asked (about) what authority does the secretary of administration have to do this and where’s the money coming from, particularly with money as tight as it is,” [Senate Minority Leader] Hensley said.

In his last year as Governor, Bill Graves “broke in” the new state Executive aircraft. For the New Year’s Day Insight.com Bowl in 2002, Gov. Graves and Lt. Gov Scherer spent tax dollars to watch the Kansas State Wildcats in Phoenix. According to the Mar. 29, 2002 Lawrence-Journal World:

Graves and Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer used the plane separately to get themselves, family and others to Phoenix, where Kansas State University was playing in the Insight.com Bowl.

Sherrer’s portion of the flight cost taxpayers $3,225, according to flight reports filed with the state. Sherrer said it was a legitimate expense because he was going as a representative of the state.

After dropping off Sherrer’s party, the plane returned to Kansas to fetch Graves and his family, who then used the plane to take his family to Palm Springs, Calif., for vacation.

The plane returned to Topeka empty, then back again several days later to Palm Springs empty to bring the Graves family home. The tab for that travel was $5,549. Graves billed the state for the portion of the trip to Phoenix and reimbursed the state for the vacation part, according to his spokesman Don Brown.

When Sebelius became governor she saw athletic events as “official business” and saw nothing wrong with using the taxpayer-funded plane to attend athletic or political events. In 2006, Sen. Jim Barnett attempted to make this a campaign issue:

“Gripe aired over flights”, Topeka Capital-Journal, Oct 28, 2006.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius took to the air this month in a state airplane to find satisfaction at the Rolling Stones concert in Wichita. …

“It looks like she’s been using state aircraft and taxpayer money for personal and political purposes,” said Rodger Woods, communications director of Barnett’s campaign.

Woods said independent research of the governor’s travels and flight log information provided through the state’s legislative research department indicated Sebelius used a state airplane to attend the Oct. 1 performance by the Rolling Stones in Wichita. Her husband, Gary, and one of her sons, John, also were on that flight originating in Topeka.

Woods also questioned an Aug. 11, 2003, flight Sebelius took from Traverse City, Mich., to Kansas City, Mo. Flight logs indicate Sebelius was returned that same day to Traverse City, which is near her family vacation home in Leland, Mich. The airplane returned to Topeka empty. The cost of that flight was $5,686, which was borne entirely by the state.

“Sebelius, Barnett release campaign finance reports,” Topeka Capital-Journal, Oct 31, 2006:

In its own analysis of the governor’s flight logs, The Topeka Capital-Journal on Saturday reported Sebelius used taxpayer-funded aircraft to attend major college sports events in Muscle Shoals, Ala.; Orlando, Fla.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and St. Louis. She also flew to Democratic Party events in Des Moines, Iowa, Bedford, Mass.; St. Louis; and Akron, Ohio.

The governor’s office said Sebelius had been careful to reimburse the state for trips that might be interpreted as outside the responsibilities of the Kansas chief executive. That has been Sebelius’ policy despite legal authority in state law to forgo repayment.

In 2006 the aircraft insurance renewal request for proposal gave these specifications for the aircraft:

Make and Model – Year: 2001 Raytheon B300, SN FL323
FAA Certification No.: N350KS
Seating Capacity: 11 – Total; Crew – 2, Passengers - 9
Declared Value: $4,000,000

Two (2) person crew comprised of Mr. Jackie Garrison, Major Courtney Dean, Lt John Peyton or Mr. Orval Dale; otherwise, two (2) person crew comprised of a pilot in command who must have a Commercial or Airline Transport Certificate, Multi-engine, Instrument and Beech 300 type rating, a minimum of 3500 hours logged as pilot in command…

The Governor’s plane is stored at Philip Billard Airport in Topeka [”Topeka’s high-flying secret wants to get the word out,” Topeka Capital-Journal, Feb 26, 2005]. In 2007 a new Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft hangar was unveiled.

“The queen of King Air: How the governor uses the state’s executive plane,” Topeka Capital-Journal, June 10, 2007.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and other governmental leaders have put the state’s Beech King Air executive aircraft to plenty of use this year.

The King Air was flown 173 days from May 15, 2006, to April 30, 2007, and traveled 87,425 miles. The plane was in the air for a total of 362 hours. Of the trips taken during that time, 81 percent were in state and 17 percent were out of state.

Now in early May 2008, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported an accusation by House Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R, Ingalls) that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius had wooed lawmakers with her air taxi service to the NCAA tournament. The Topeka Capital-Journal said:

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, accused Sebelius of manipulating state resources to curry favor from lawmakers in her fight against a $3.6 billion coal-fired plant proposed for southwest Kansas. The governor vetoed two bills advancing the project. …

On Friday, interviews with seven of 11 lawmakers who accepted a seat on the eight-passenger aircraft during the NCAA Tournament said the opportunity to accompany the governor had no influence on their assessment of coal legislation.

Kansans are proud of their #1 Kansas Jayhawks but many taxpayers may not be aware that tax dollars may have been used by the Governor and lawmakers to attend the game in San Antonio.

Sherriene Jones-Sontag, spokeswoman for Neufeld, said it wasn’t necessary for anyone to talk about coal legislation to score points. Sharing perks at public expense can be as much about remaining loyal to the governor in opposition to coal plant bills as it is about switching a vote, she said.

“The bottom line is the governor hosted several weekends of bonding with influential groups of legislators,” Jones-Sontag said. “The governor is a skilled politician and I am sure was keenly aware that regardless of what was or was not discussed on any of the particular weekends, that the goodwill built with these legislators and potential surrogates could be valuable.”

Lawmakers attending the NCAA tournaments in 2008 included:

• Rep. Barbara Ballard (D, Lawrence),
• Rep. Sydney Carlin (D, Manhattan),
• Rep. Paul Davis (D, Lawrence),
• Sen. Marci Francisco (D, Lawrence),
• Rep. Terrie Huntington (R, Fairway),
• Rep. Annie Kuether (D, Topeka),
• Sen. Laura Kelly (D, Topeka), and
• Rep. Julie. Menghini (D, Pittsburgh),
• Sen. Dwayne Umbarger (R, Thayer),
• Sen. David Wysong (R, MIssion Hills), [refunded state for Detroit flight]
• Sen. John Vratil (R, Leawood)

Oddly, State Rep Annie Kuether has a reputation in the Kansas statehouse as a strong environmentalist and worries about coal being used in a power plant, but doesn’t worry about her “carbon footprint” from flying across the country to watch a basketball game in person with at least partial support of taxpayers? Sebelius last week appointed Kuether to the new Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy Advisory Group.

Sebelius has been getting more and more green but doesn’t worry about her carbon footprint from flying to a basketball game? What was Sebelius’ carbon footprint for flying across the country to help U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in his presidential bid at the Kentucky Derby last week? Does the Kansas Legislature need to consider giving Gov. Sebelius some advice on what constitutes “official business” and what does not in the use of the State’s plane?

The Meadowlark is collecting information to compute Gov. Sebelius’ carbon footprint from her political travels.

Tags: Bill Graves, carbon footprint, executive aircraft, Gary Sherrer, Kathleen Sebelius, N350KS, Paul Davis, Sandy Praeger

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 11th, 2008 at 12:13 am and is filed under Environment, Kansas Government Accountability, Kansas Government Waste, Kansas House, Kansas Senate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.