Sanford, Thomas trade jabs on travel dispute

By GINA SMITH - gnsmith@thestate.com

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For the second day in a row, Gov. Mark Sanford took the fight to his critics, traveling on short notice to Greenville to take jabs at fellow lawmakers and past governors but avoiding questions from reporters.

Sanford stood across the street Thursday from the law office of fellow Republican, state Sen. David Thomas, whose subcommittee is investigating Sanford’s travel.

Sanford accused Thomas of failing to conduct a real investigation, instead seeking publicity to bolster his campaign to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis.

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Who paid for tickets?

Gov. Mark Sanford says other S.C. governors have flown first or business class on foreign trade trips.
In defending his use of business-class tickets, Sanford produced documents this week that show past S.C. governors also flew first class or business class.
State law and regulations prohibit first-class travel, requiring the purchase of the most affordable airfare in most circumstances.
But former Gov. Jim Hodges — one of those who Sanford cited — said his trade trips had a key difference: The upgraded tickets were paid for by a separate fund of private corporate donations at the state Department of Commerce, known as the special events fund.
The fund was created as a way to pay for things that are barred by state law but useful in recruiting businesses, such as alcohol or golf outings. Use of the fund was criticized after it was used to pay for a Commerce employee picnic and alcohol at a Christmas party.
A Legislative Audit Council report in 2002, available online, ruled the agency improperly had used public money. Though the donations were from private companies, the Audit Council ruled the money was public and had to be spent for a public purpose.
The special events fund was closed. However, the Commerce Department has a similar account known as the crescent fund, which was used to pay for security and a tour guide on a 2008 trade trip to Brazil and Argentina. Sanford met his lover on part of that trip, subsequently repaying the state $3,300 for part of his expenses.
— John O’Connor and Gina Smith

Later, Thomas defended his investigation as a search for the truth, adding Sanford is acting strangely and confrontational.

“If he’s going to do a real investigation, then do one,” said Sanford, who Wednesday sent documents — at Thomas’ request — showing the state has used taxpayer money to buy 230 business-class tickets over the past 25 years for lawmakers, state staffers and past governors.

“There is a much greater story to be told here,” said Sanford, who had built a reputation as a frugal conservative.

In a letter to Thomas, Sanford’s attorney said if previous governors traveled business class, it’s legal for Sanford to have done so as well — despite state law.

Thomas said he will verify Sanford’s documents, adding the investigation is not about political fingerpointing.

“I knew if I jumped into this I would be attacked and some people would claim I was doing this because I was running for Congress,” Thomas said. “I knew it would hurt me to investigate but I knew it needed to be done.”

Thomas said it is possible other governors may have broken the law, but his investigation, at this point, is about Sanford.

Sanford is defending himself against a recent Associated Press investigation that found he has used expensive business class airline tickets. State law requires the most economical form of transportation be used.

The Associated Press also found Sanford flew on state planes to personal and political events, and failed to report private plane trips on his ethics filings.

Sanford first came under fire in June after he disappeared from the state for six days on a secret trip to visit his Argentine lover.

Reach Smith at (803) 771-8658.

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