NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Gas prices, high ticket prices and a weakening economy led to many Tennesseans opting not to travel this summer, but that wasn't the case for many lawmakers.

Related: Lawmaker Travels, Expenditures (pdf) | Watch This Story

In May, state employees were ordered to not travel on the state's dime. Taxpayers paid lawmakers to take trips to New Orleans, Florida and Washington, D.C. An analysis of reimbursements and travel expenses for lawmakers showed state representatives and senators spent more than $109,529 in taxpayer money to travel all over the country.

"A sensitivity to taxpayers: That's what's missing," said Ben Cunningham, taxpayer advocate.

The state pays lawmakers a daily per diem when they travel for conferences and reimburses them for hotel and airfare.

The biggest traveler by far was Sen. Ophelia Ford from Memphis. Between June and September this summer, taxpayers paid her to fly to five different conferences in Des Moines, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Chicago and Washington, D.C., at a cost of $12,030.

Ford is traveling and could not be reached for comment.

The New Orleans conference she attended was a destination for many middle Tennessee lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Turner, who stayed in New Orleans for five days at the National Conference of State Lawmakers. Taxpayers paid him more than $2,056 to take that trip.

All total, 26 Tennessee lawmakers went on the trip to New Orleans.

"I think most people consider travel a bit of a luxury. It's something that you don't have to do," Cunningham said. "Some taxpayer out there worked damn hard for this money."

"I think (the conference) was beneficial," said Rep. Gary Moore. "Obviously, we might look at it a bit different this year."

So far this year, taxpayers have paid more than $200,000 for lawmakers to travel.