Don’t let more lame ducks travel on taxpayers’ dime

To their credit, voters already have spoken about Connie Morris, the Kansas State Board of Education member from St. Francis who was ousted in the GOP primary. But there is still the matter of what, if anything, the state board is going to do in response to the two state-funded trips Morris is taking during her lame-duck months. The question came up during a debate this week in the District 7 race between incumbent Ken Willard (in photo) of Hutchinson and challenger Jack Wempe of Lyons. Willard said: “I don’t see it as improper. As a board member, you’re elected for four years. It doesn’t end after a primary election.”
But something can be proper and utterly at odds with common sense and fiscal responsibility. So Wempe is right to support reassessing the policy: “This travel policy lumps all reimbursements made into one pot.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman

7 Comments

  1. JM
    Posted October 18, 2006 at 8:53 am | Permalink

    I don’t see anything wrong with putting restriction on state-funded travel the last few months of an elected official’s term in office.

    A lot of companies and the military have this policy where you cannot go out of town at the company’s expense or in the case of the military, cannot go on Temporary Assignment or some cases even take vacation leave prior to the service contract expires.

  2. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted October 18, 2006 at 12:22 pm | Permalink

    And where is CKD on this issue?

    MIA? KIA? Out to lunch.

    Come on Cindy, come here and defend Connie for us.

    I cant wait for the gymnastics on THAT one. I bet they are better than her contortions on the taliban terry threads.

  3. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted October 18, 2006 at 12:23 pm | Permalink

    Sigh. I guess she must be at church either getting or giving “motivation”.

    heheheheheh

  4. TRACY
    Posted October 18, 2006 at 1:57 pm | Permalink

    Well, well.That’s a real heads-up on ol’ slick willy ain’t it?IF he manages to get elected, expect him to take advantage of EVERY PERK.Good to the last drop, huh Connie?Reminds me of folks who go to benefit shows where it’s ‘donations excepted’ and never give a damn dime.Is this our state motto:?WHATEVER YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH(LEGALLY)

  5. TRACY
    Posted October 18, 2006 at 1:58 pm | Permalink

    ‘donations excepted’

    THAT DON’T SOUND RIGHT/ accepted.

  6. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted October 18, 2006 at 2:45 pm | Permalink

    We can just hope the new state BOE will take a look at and revise the travel expense reimbursement policy being exploited by Ms Morris come January.

  7. TRACY
    Posted October 18, 2006 at 4:10 pm | Permalink

    Just like “The Price Is Right”.

    Connie is a loser, so she figures this is her “parting gift”.