Friday, October 7, 2011

Fallin Fail: Governor Defends Air Show Boondoggle

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin pretends to be a good steward of the taxpayer's money. She's one of those highly accountable, tight-fisted Republicans who wouldn't waste a dime of the Sooner state treasury.

Actually, not so much.

As the Associated Press reported this week, the Fallin administration sent four state employees to the Paris Air Show this summer to the tune of $84,000.

How 'bout that $400-a-night luxury hotel? How 'bout that $188 daily meal expense? Nice (state) work, if you can get it.

Fallin has defended the trip, calling it a "legitimate investment" in the state's aerospace industry. The state needs to wave its aerospace flag, Fallin said, because it's an important Oklahoma industry.

We're not buying it, not when Fallin and other state leaders have been cutting spending on public education, health programs and other state services.

After laying out $84,000 on a dubious junket, Gov. Fallin and the state's Republican leaders need to drop all the "woe is me" baloney about state revenues. If they can afford to send four state employees to Paris, they can do better for the underfunded and underserved people of Oklahoma.

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