Former state Ethics Commision Chair joins call to investigate Daniels' travel

Long Thompson campaign filed public records request and complaint on Wednesday

INDIANAPOLIS - Today, the former chair of the State Ethics Commission became the latest state leader to call for an investigation into Governor Mitch Daniels' use of state aircraft for personal and political travel.

Professor David Hadley, who also chairs the political science department at Wabash College, believes there is ample evidence for the Inspector General to quickly follow through with the Jill Long Thompson campaign's complaint filed last Wednesday.

"Based on various newspaper reports, Governor Daniels' use of state planes for transportation to political events would appear to violate 42 IAC 1-5-12," said Professor Hadley. "The Inspector General should immediately initiate the investigation and report the results of the inquiry to the Ethics Commission at its next meeting. If the Governor has in fact used state funds for political purposes, he must immediately reimburse the taxpayers."

A northeastern Indiana newspaper recently reported that Daniels had used state airplanes and other vehicles to attend personal and political events at taxpayer expense. Trips included several Republican Party dinners and a flight from his vacation home in West Virginia back to Indiana. Most recently, he used a state plane to travel the state announcing initiatives that are now featured in campaign commercials.

A week after urging the Governor to voluntarily disclose his travel records and reimburse Hoosiers, last week the Long Thompson campaign filed the paperwork necessary to investigate Daniels' travel. The campaign submitted a public records request for the immediate release of all documents pertaining to his travel and filed a complaint with the state's office of Inspector General to uncover any violations of Indiana ethics laws or regulations.

"Hoosiers deserve answers and Governor Daniels should do the right thing and release his records, allow for a full and independent investigation," added Professor Hadley.