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Do we really care what Blanco ate on her trip around the world? |
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Written by Press-Tribune Staff
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Tuesday, 26 December 2006 |
The Governor of Louisiana stayed in ritzy hotels and ate room service on her trip to the “other side of the world” in November.
Who cares? Apparently, The Advocate of Baton Rouge.
In a recent article, the Advocate chronicled Governor Kathleen Blanco’s (and some of her staff’s) expenses.
According to the article, Blanco spent about $16,000 on hotels and airfare during her trip.
She traveled business class and stayed in hotel rooms costing up to $300 a night.
The total does not include travel expenses for Blanco’s aide, bodyguards, Economic Development Secretary Michael Olivier and his staff.
The Advocate made a public records request Nov. 9 for all financial documents related to the trip.
After more than a month, the Governor’s Office responded by turning over only Blanco’s travel expenses.
Blanco’s spokeswoman, Marie Centanni, said the governor was accompanied by an aide, Aprll Springfield, three state troopers and Blanco’s husband. She was unsure how many people from Blanco’s Economic Development Department came.
Their expenses were not disclosed.Louisiana State Police picked up the bill for Blanco’s bodyguards, she said.
There are a host of public records requests, phone calls and other correspondence currently in process - thanks to The Advocate.
In case you are interested, Blanco’s expenses included:
= $12,926.25 for airfare. Blanco left Louisiana on Oct. 30 and returned on Nov. 13. Her flight schedule took her to Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuwait City and Frankfurt, Germany.
For most of her air travel, Blanco flew business class, which generally offers more leg room than economy seats, five-course dining and a selection of wines.
= $705.89 to stay at the Imperial Hotel Japan in Tokyo for two nights. The bill includes charges for room service and a massage. Blanco paid for the massage out of her own pocket.
= $687.46 to stay at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai - the highest hotel in the world - for two nights. The charges include a local telephone call and a meal.
= $959.33 for three nights at the five-star Langham Hotel Hong Kong. The total includes two dining charges.
= $1,049.02 to stay two nights at the Grand Hyatt Taipei. The bill includes a room service charge.
= $234.62 to stay overnight at the Regal Airport Hotel in Hong Kong.
Knowing all this, our question still remains, “Who cares?”
As governor of the state of Louisiana, we would expect that she travel well and stay in nice establishments. Her position as a head of state (of sorts) would make eating in a restaurant while traveling abroad difficult at best.
If we, as a state, are trying to put our best foot forward in the international business arena, then we would not have our representative staying at the “Shanghai Motel 6.”
And before the “fiscal conservatives” out there speak of the dire financial situation our state currently faces, might we remind you the state is in the black to the tune of $2 billion.
If any of Blanco’s efforts produce positive results, then the trip was well worth what we the taxpayers invested. If not, then we should at least acknowledge that she is trying to lure business here - which is more than we can say for the previous administration.
We hope the ducks are flying for you, Mike.
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