Senator Defends $12,000 In Travels
Memphis Politician Says Use Of Money Was 'Economical'
POSTED: 5:09 pm CST December 1,
2008
UPDATED: 1:29 pm CST December 5,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Channel 4 I-team found several legislators spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money traveling this summer.
Video: Lawmaker Defends $12,000 In TripsThis all occurred while state employees were ordered not to travel using the state's money because of the economy. However, several lawmakers used more than $100,000 in state money to attend conferences in places like New York, Boca Raton, Fla., and California's Napa Valley.The I-Team found the biggest traveler by far was Sen. Ophelia Ford from Memphis.This summer, just between June and September, 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.Channel 4 tried to speak with Ford last week when the investigation first aired, but was told she was traveling and unavailable for comment.She returned Channel 4's calls on Monday and defended her summer travels and how much it cost taxpayers and her colleagues to take those trips."I think most people consider travel a bit of a luxury. It's something you don't have to do," said Ben Cunningham, a taxpayer advocate."Is this the right kind of thing to do in the economic climate we're in right now? Was it a good idea to travel to those conferences?" asked reporter Jeremy Finley."Yes, sir, I do believe that it was," said Ford.Ford said because of her illness in 2007, she hasn't been able to travel to conferences, so she took several trips this summer, even while the economy continued to weaken."You mean to tell me that's all I spent was $12,000? Oh, well Hallelujah. Thank you Lord for making it so economical. Thank you Lord. That's all I can say, sir," said Ford."You think $12,000 is economical?" asked Finley."It's so economical. Yes, sir, I'm not an extravagant woman (in) any way, sir," said Ford.Ford and her fellow traveling lawmakers got paid daily per diems and were reimbursed for hotel and flights. She said lawmakers need to attend these educational conferences but not necessarily state employees."I would think that the state should find funds to educate us lawmakers and make it mandatory for certain lawmakers to go to, not state employees, but lawmakers," said Ford.Ford said she will continue to travel to conferences, but said because the session starts next month, there will be little time to travel.
Video: Lawmaker Defends $12,000 In TripsThis all occurred while state employees were ordered not to travel using the state's money because of the economy. However, several lawmakers used more than $100,000 in state money to attend conferences in places like New York, Boca Raton, Fla., and California's Napa Valley.The I-Team found the biggest traveler by far was Sen. Ophelia Ford from Memphis.This summer, just between June and September, 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.Channel 4 tried to speak with Ford last week when the investigation first aired, but was told she was traveling and unavailable for comment.She returned Channel 4's calls on Monday and defended her summer travels and how much it cost taxpayers and her colleagues to take those trips."I think most people consider travel a bit of a luxury. It's something you don't have to do," said Ben Cunningham, a taxpayer advocate."Is this the right kind of thing to do in the economic climate we're in right now? Was it a good idea to travel to those conferences?" asked reporter Jeremy Finley."Yes, sir, I do believe that it was," said Ford.Ford said because of her illness in 2007, she hasn't been able to travel to conferences, so she took several trips this summer, even while the economy continued to weaken."You mean to tell me that's all I spent was $12,000? Oh, well Hallelujah. Thank you Lord for making it so economical. Thank you Lord. That's all I can say, sir," said Ford."You think $12,000 is economical?" asked Finley."It's so economical. Yes, sir, I'm not an extravagant woman (in) any way, sir," said Ford.Ford and her fellow traveling lawmakers got paid daily per diems and were reimbursed for hotel and flights. She said lawmakers need to attend these educational conferences but not necessarily state employees."I would think that the state should find funds to educate us lawmakers and make it mandatory for certain lawmakers to go to, not state employees, but lawmakers," said Ford.Ford said she will continue to travel to conferences, but said because the session starts next month, there will be little time to travel.
Previous Stories:
- November 26, 2008: Lawmakers Travel On Taxpayers' Dime
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