State Auditor Les Merritt this morning said that state trips in which First Lady Mary Easley and others traveled to France, Russia and Estonia included "unreasonable and excessive expenses," including a taxpayer-funded $332 lunchtime caviar cocktail.
Taxpayers picked up hundreds of dollars in alcohol purchases, against state policy. They paid for ballet tickets, and an executive assistant to Easley billed the state $227 dollars for a linen jacket.
Merritt found that the trips to France and Russia were of questionable value to taxpayers. The audit was delayed 30 days because Merritt could not get an interview with Easley.
Easley and an assistant traveled to Paris and Compiegne, France, in May 2007. The trip was designed to celebrate a successful Monet exhibit in Raleigh that had already ended. Easley had no specific duties or obligations on the trip. One year later, a delegation of state cultural resources officials including Easley traveled to Tallin, Estonia, and St. Petersburg, Russia. In Russia, where room expenses averaged $955 a night per person, Easley and the others had one hour of official state business — a meeting with officials from the Hermitage Museum.
"Any direct benefit to the State related to the First lady's presence on the trips to France and Russia is difficult to identify," Merritt said. "For example in Russia, a simple one hour meeting with museum officials does not justify the taxpayers paying for a day-long tour of St. Petersburg plus a trip to the ballet."
An Easley spokesman said all expenses and planning arrangments were handled by the Department of Cultural Resources.
"The first lady was asked by Cultural Resources to attend and while there she did what she was asked to do by the department," said Seth Effron a spokesman for Gov. Easley. Effron declined to answer questions.
"The statement that I've given you is the statement I've given out."
A phone call to the acting head of the Cultural Resources Department was not immediately returned.
Merritt reviewed the trips after news reports in The News & Observer detailed expenses. Merritt received hotline tips that the trips were wasteful. Easley has declined requests to discuss the trips. Her husband, Gov. Mike Easley, has defended the trips, saying Europe is expensive and that just one big museum exhibit, will bring millions to the state.
Details of caviar and alcohol purchases after the jump.
Update: Post now includes response from Easley spokesman.
—————
Merritt's office said the "unreasonable and excessive expenses" included:
- an average per room lodging expense of $955.40 in St. Petersburg;
- excessive meal reimbursements that included the lunchtime caviar cocktail ;
- hundreds of dollars in alcohol purchases in violation of state policy;
- entertainment expenses including ballet tickets costing $1,169.56;
- and the 24-hour availability of private transportation for the First Lady in a Mercedes SUV for $27,012.61.
Easley and his spokesmen have said that such transportation arrangments are necessary for security. It was the reason the governor had two vehicles available when he and his wife were in Italy. But a seargent in charge of the security detail told auditors that chaufferred private vehicles are not necessary for security. In fact, in France, Easley's car often rode behind the tour bus Easley was riding on.
Multiple persons informed us that the contracted private car simply followed the tour bus when the first lady rode the bus. The first lady rode in the private car in the evenings when the group was on its own for dinner or shopping and when travelling from city to city when they were in Compiegne. The Trooper providing security estimated that the first lady rode the tour bus 60 percent of the time while in France...It appears the private vehicle was a convenience rather than a need for the first lady's group while in France."
Also, the report said that the first lady's former executive assistant was reimbursed $227.50 for a meal for four that was later determined to be the purchase of a linen jacket at a women's clothing boutique in France.
"This report shows that Cultural Resources officials made a poor effort to set reasonable standards for overseas travel.It's clear that meals and lodging were chosen because they met the highest quality and not because they met the standard of a 'prudent' public servant traveling on the taxpayers' dollar," Merritt said in a statement.
Document(s):
trips_audit.pdf
Comments
Un Jour Ailleurs and soup de jour.......
November 1, 2008 - 6:21am — domewatcherOpie and Andy just can't understand the European trip?
Opie: “Pa, I read in the audit report where one receipt said it was for a ‘meal for 4.’ The total was $227.00.”
Pa: “Well, Op, those Frenchies eat high on the hog.”
Opie: “But, Pa. It turned out to be a bill from “Un Jour Ailleurs.”
Pa: “Those French restaurants all have funny names. Like that Chinese place in Tarboro….Lin’s Super Buffet. Man, that’s fine eatin’.”
Opie: “But, Pa, the bill really turned out to be from a ladies dress shop. That’s what “Un Jour Ailleurs” is….a ladies clothes store.”
Pa: “Well, Op, I know a little Frenchie talk. The French word “jour” translates to “soup.” When you get older and go to one of those ‘two-fork diners’ in Cary you will see a blackboard that says, “Soup de Jour.” That means ‘soup of the day. “
Opie: “But, Pa, why would it say “Soup de Jour” if “jour” means “soup? They already have soup written up there and adding jour is saying it twice?”
Pa: “It’s called a double negative. They use them a lot in Cary.”
Opie: “Oh.”
Pa: “And the “Un” means “one” in France. Dual means two and trace means three. And then “ailleurs” means “ailing or sick.” See, Op, mothers always give soup to sick children. So these 4 ladies went to get some soup after all the stress of missing their flight and changing hotels. Women get stressed out sometimes…….. and soup is the best thing to calm a woman down. Always remember that, Op.”
Opie: “I’ll remember that, Pa. ‘Un Jour Ailleurs“ means one bowl of soup for ailing women.”
Pa: “Good, Op. Keeping women calm is a good way to avoid felonies.”
Opie: “So you think the auditor made a mistake? I mean, about the linen jacket?”
Pa: “That’s the thing, Op. The soup was probably made from linen. Linen is a member of the potato family…..freshly washed sheets always smell like a baked potato. See, Op, the French eat snails and turtles and French bread. So they probably eat linen jackets rather than giving them to the Salvation Army.”
Opie: “Gosh, Pa.”
Pa: “Everything is pretty simple if you just take the time to sit down and think it through.”
Opie: “Why didn‘t the culture people try to figure this all out before they went on the trip?”
Pa: “That is the question, dear Op, to suffer the pangs and arrows……...”
Opie: “It’s hard for the average taxpayer to figure it out, ain’t it, Pa?”
Pa: “Op, I don’t think the average taxpayer is meant to understand. Just vote for more of the same. They‘ll do it again and we will complain and then they will do it again and we will complain. I think it‘s called a Ponzi scheme or either the Circle of Gold or robocalling.”
Opie: “Gee, Pa. I can‘t wait to go to Cary and order “Un Jour Ailleurs!”
Pa:’’ “Op, you’ll fit right in.! But tell them you want the soup hot. They eat a lot of cold soup in Cary. I‘ve never understood that…..cold soup? But then again I‘ve never understood Cary.”
Re: Auditor: Easley trips excessive
October 31, 2008 - 12:29pm — rapidtransitI read in today's N & O that Mary Easley hired Senator Rand to represent her in the trip scandal. Are there likely to be charges in this. I remember that Gov. Easley said that it was all due to the exchange rate and that made cheeseburgers cost sixty bucks. It looks like the auditor has found more than the dollar devaluation. Change the name to the cultural of corruption instead of culture of corruption. Sad.
Being the "Good Steward."
October 31, 2008 - 10:14am — domewatcherOpie and Andy are still discussing the audit report on the museum goodwill tour:
Opie: “The audit report stated that the additional cost to the state resulting from the missed flight was $3,041.49.”
Pa: (whistle): “That’s a lot of money, Op.”
Opie: “It really is, Pa. How could that happen?”
Pa: “I don’t know, Op. Must have had a flat tire on the state bus or something.”
Opie: “Who pays for that extra $3,041.19?”
Pa: “I believe, at first, the taxpayers were going to have to pay but I think the auditor has said that maybe they ought to stick someone else with the tab.”
Opie: And then changing hotels in France had a total extra cost of $5,252.67.“
Pa: “It’s really adding up, isn’t it, Op?”
Opie: “I didn’t know we had that much money in the whole state. Who pays that?”
Pa: “Well, Op, they’re still trying to figure that out…..but that’s not the point. The point is that the state should be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money.”
Opie: “What’s a steward, Pa.”
Pa: “Op, that’s a person who takes care of other people’s money or an airline employee. And some stewards are on boats and some are winos. But most are on airline flights.”
Opie: “But they missed their flight.”
Pa: “And the steward made them pay….big time.”
Opie” “I don’t want to take care of other people’s money if I’m gonna waste it like that.”
Pa: “Opie, you’d never do that. You are a good boy and I raised my youngun’ right. No, you’d take care of other people’s money better than your own. Just like when Rev. Tucker preached about the “Good Steward." You‘d do the right thing. That‘s what my boy would do…..the right thing.”
Opie: “I would, Pa. I’d stay away from felonies.”
Pa: “I’m proud of you, Op. Go on that trip with the culture club and teach them about the culture of spending someone else’s money…..wisely. Just because it’s not your money does not mean you should waste it. Wasting money is bad, Op.”
Opie: “I know, Pa. What do you think the auditor said when he saw the expense records from the trip.”
Pa: “Op, the News and Observer is a family newspaper and I do not think they would print what the auditors said when they went through those receipts. Opie, have I ever told you what an expletive is?”
Is the museum exhibit coming to Mayberry?
October 31, 2008 - 9:40am — domewatcherOpie and Andy contiune talking about the auditor's report on the delights of the ballet, caviar and linen jackets....
Opie: “We sent those culture people to Russia to arrange a museum exhibit?”
Pa: “Sounds like they had a grand time of things.”
Opie: “Do you think they can convince those Russians that we have culture?”
Pa: “Probably, Op.”
Opie: “Do you think those Russians will send a museum exhibit here?”
Pa: “Depends.”
Opie: “Depends on what, Pa?”
Pa: “Whether or not those Russians read the auditor’s report.”
Opie: “Why, Pa.”
Pa: “Because if the Russians see how unorganized and rinky-dink that trip was they won’t send the art exhibit.”
Opie: “Why not, Pa?”
Pa: “They’ll know we’re not smart enough to ship it back to them.”
Pa, what is culture?
October 31, 2008 - 7:56am — domewatcherOpie and Andy are still discussing North Carolina politics.
Opie: “Pa, why does the state sent cultural people to France and Russia?”
Pa: “Op, we want those people to know that we have culture.”
Opie: “What is culture, Pa?”
Pa: “Culture is appreciating art and music.”
Opie: “I love the picture show and listening to the radio station in Mt. Pilot….especially Leonard Blush.”
Pa: “ Then, Op, I’d say you got culture!”
Opie: “Gosh, Pa. I didn’t even know. Will they take me on one of those culture trips to Europe?”
Pa: “Maybe, son. You’ll have to stay away from felonies.”
Opie: “I’ll be good, Pa”
Pa: “Then I’ll call the Governor’s office and tell them to book you on the next European Vacation.”
Opie: “What’ll I have to do? I mean on the trip. How should I act?”
Pa: “Stupid…..act stupid, Op. You’ll fit right in.”
Opie: “OK, Pa.”
Pa: “But Op, stay away from felonies. Spending time in a Turkish prison is no fun at all.”
Opie: “I don’t want to go to Turkey.”
Pa: “You may not want to but if they keep missing flights and changing hotels….well, there’s no telling where you may wind up.”
Opie: “Is anyone else from Mayberry going?”
Pa: “I think Otis is going.”
Opie: “What makes you say that, Pa?”
Pa: “Have you seen the liquor bills?”
Re: Bev - share your travel records with us
October 31, 2008 - 7:15am — concerned53Beverly, have you sent in your travel records yet to either the N&O or to Les Merritt? Or have you misplaced them until after the election?
The "pdf" is....... pretty doggone fascinating!!!!!
October 31, 2008 - 6:00am — domewatcherIf you get a chance read the "pdf file" of the auditor's report on the "Trip of the Century."
The auditor's comment range from sad to hilarious. Saturday Night Live, Letterman, Daly, Leno, Colbert.......they would go nuts over this report. Missed flights, changed hotels, caviar.....I would love to have seen the "Three Stooges" do a show on this trip.
Read the full report. You'll not be disappointed. State government can be fun.
Re: where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?
October 30, 2008 - 1:53pm — concerned53All politicians & other public officials, as well as their wives/husbands, should be held to a higher standard versus a lower one. So you may be surprised but if deemed excessive & paid for by the taxpayers, they should be held accountable as well.
I am glad that you agree that there is a stinch around Easley's trips (Mary's trip was not anything like a "farewell tour" that a President would have with other heads of state).
Mum, however seems to be the word coming out of Beverly's camp as I don't believe that she has ever released her travel records. Her not doing so causes somewhat of a bad smell as well. McCain should do the same thing in his role as a Senator.
Re: Auditor: Easley trips excessive
October 30, 2008 - 1:42pm — danmanley2299would you include Bush/Cheney and McCain on a similar list of corrupt DC politicians? In June his weeklong tour through European capitals has the same stinch of the Easley trip, a glamourous farewell tour with leisurely schedule including castle visits and lavish dinners.
but i guess that is different.
Re: where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?
October 30, 2008 - 1:31pm — wwf165Bev is probably shaking in her boots because she doesn't want to reveal her travel logs and trip expenditures. But this is nothing new - we don't hear anything from Bev except the promise of whistling from Andy.
Does anyone know if she campaigning/traveling while she is getting paid her LT Gov salary? Have these questions been asked?
Re: where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?
October 30, 2008 - 12:27pm — PerDONTOne trip verses one thousand trips, it doesn't matter. This is an example of the excess of the corrupt leadership in Raleigh. Throw out Mike, Mary and Bev and bring in new leadership so we can break this vicious cycle.
where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?
October 30, 2008 - 12:17pm — concerned53I haven't heard word one from Beverly regarding what she felt about the excesses by Mike and Mary Easley. If she has nothing to hide, then she ought to make a public statement to communicate her outrage. But then again, has she shared her travel expenditures as Lt. Governor?
Come on N&O and Observer, give her a call and ask her. I want a response from her and not her spokesman (who I sometimes think is the one running for governor as I very seldom hear her quoted outside of prepared speeches, etc).
Re: Auditor: Easley trips excessive
October 30, 2008 - 12:09pm — danmanley2299$21,000,000,000 = state budget, i think thats about right
$110,000 total cost of this trip
.000524% of state budget
if there were 1000 trips like this taken it would still only be half of one percent of the states budget. This is a part of the doing the states business, get over yourselves.
Caviar is not only for dinner.......you can eat it for lunch!
October 30, 2008 - 10:42am — domewatcherThis is an excerpt from the auditor’s investigation into the “Cheeseburger in Paradise” scandal. This excerpt was obtained through an illegal wiretap and there is a chance that this conversation may not be verbatim. A pretty good chance as a matter of fact as there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth.....by the auditor.
Auditor: “I want to ask you about the European trip.”
Prudent public servant: “Certainly.”
Auditor: “May I call you, ‘Prudent.”
Prudent public servant: “Certainly.”
Auditor: “I have here a bill for $322.00” for a caviar cocktail.”
Prudent: “Certainly.”
Auditor: “Do you consider that Prudent?”
Prudent: “What?”
Auditor: “Do you consider that Prudent?”
Prudent: “No, that’s my name….‘Prudent?”
Auditor: “ No, Prudent. I mean, do you consider the $322.00 lunchtime caviar cocktail to be a prudent.”
Prudent: “What? No, the caviar cocktail was food. I’m Prudent.”
Auditor: “The point is that the caviar cocktail….for $322.00.….may be a little high for the NC taxpayer.”
Prudent: “Caviar is made from fish eggs. Do you know how many fish you need to make a caviar cocktail? $322.00 is very reasonable. Very reasonable indeed. You can’t expect rednecks to appreciate caviar. That’s what we are trying to do. Broaden their horizons. Teach them culture.”
Auditor: “By eating caviar.”
Prudent: “Yes, in Russia. Best caviar in the world…..so they say.”
Auditor: “So your eating caviar….Russian…. will broaden the horizons of NC taxpayers. Teach them culture.”
Prudent: “If it doesn’t then Rocky is a pansy.”
Auditor: “What?”
Prudent: “We always say that when we don’t know the answer. It’s like pleading the Fifth.”
Auditor: “What?”
Prudent: “Fish eggs. That’s what caviar is. Fish eggs.”
Auditor: “What about Rocky?”
Prudent: “He fought a Russian in one of the later Rocky movies.”
Auditor: “What?”
Prudent: “I think Rocky won the fight and the Russians fell in love with him.”
Auditor: “What.”
Prudent: “Prudent female public servants are called ‘Prudence.”
Auditor: “What?”
Prudent: “Let it go, Auditor. Let it go…..that’s what Rocky said to the Sheriff. Let it go if you know what is good for you. We‘re getting ready to go on another junket. Want to go?”
Auditor: “Where you all going?”
...more after the break…….
State Auditor crosses the line!
October 30, 2008 - 10:05am — domewatcherThis trip could be designed to give us a glimpse into the coming world of “redistribution of wealth.” The government takes the taxpayer’s money and spends it in Europe celebrating Monet’s successful exhibit in North Carolina. Makes pretty good sense if you understand the devaluation of the dollar. I don’t care where you go in Raleigh it’s hard to drop that kind of cash. So it makes sense to go to Europe and ‘get down.’
The only problem with this whole deal is that the state auditor does not know the #1 rule of state ethics: “What happens in Europe stays in Europe.”
This is all the fault of the state auditor. Our government runs best when we follow the three monkeys: “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.”
The main stream media are following these important rules in their coverage of Obama. Why can’t the state auditor do his part? If the public did not know of this 'Griswald European Vacation' then there would be no outrage. Why upset the poor taxpayers of North Carolina? Don’t they have enough problems of their own without the state auditor adding to them?
“If you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all.” That’s good advice for the state auditor……….. but not for Dome members.
P.S. I bought a print in a metal frame of “Monet's Garden at Vethuil, 1881” at Target for around $12.00. It is colorful and looks good next to my metal “Red Man” chewing tobacco sign. You can say what you want but us North Carolinians have got loads of culture.
Re: Auditor: Easley trips excessive
October 30, 2008 - 9:07am — mickiepAbsolutely disgusting! Lavish trips,spending sprees, and high paying state jobs as a parachute for the well-connected ALL under the pretense of public service and for the good of NC. Where is the outrage? This has got to stop!!!!!!!!!!
Bev - share your travel records with us
October 30, 2008 - 8:38am — soccermom3This is a pathetic example of waste and excess by officials that we are supposed to trust to spend our tax dollars wisely.
I too am curious as to what other public officials are spending on their trips. If I recall, Perdue criticized Mayor McCrory for his trip to Paris as a guest of Gov Hunt and US Airways. Would you please share your travel records as well Bev since you have been Lt. Governor. We deserve to know if you are doing or not doing the same sorts of excessives as the Easleys.
It's hard to digest a $60.00 cheeseburger.
October 30, 2008 - 8:34am — domewatcherTen more observations in defense of being a big spender on the taypayer's dime:
10. What’s so bad about a taxpayer-funded $332 lunchtime caviar cocktail? Ken’s Grill in LaGrange has gone up on fish stew-w/white bread or hush puppies (Fridays…… and get there early.) I don't think it $332 but with tea it'll tear a ten dollar bill all to pieces.
9. A French linen jacket for $227 is a bargain…..what with the exchange rate and all. If a cheeseburger costs $60.00 then this jacket would sell for $11.99 at the Clayton Wal Mart.
8. I missed the Monet exhibit in Raleigh but I’m glad they got to celebrate it in Europe. I did, however, attend the ribbon cutting of the new Bojangles. What a party? I ate, like, 4 cinnamon twists.
7. Spending $995 a night in Russia is nothing. Did they bring back any Russian wives? Maybe we could arrange a wife exchange with the Russians. I’d love one that did not speak English. That would make the trip very worthwhile and quite inexpensive.
6. That’s just what we need! An exchange with the Hermitage Museum. Bring some hermits over here. ACORN probably has already filled out their voter registration cards. I though hermits were like the General Assembly leadership……liked to hide out.
5. Those ballet tickets were a steal. But I still favor Hunter’s Dance Recitals in Wilson.
4. Governor Easley explained that the trip was necessary and that one successful museum exhibit would bring millions to the state. He further added that he wants to bring King Tut to NC but could not find him in Russia. He explained that it would take longer to find King Tut with the breakup of the Soviet Union and all. “But I’ll buy him a cheeseburger even if it costs $60.00!” We’ll find him if we have to spend 50 million dollars! Culture is more important than jobs……..
3. And the $27,012.61 Mercedes SUV. That’s not a bad price either. Our First Lady should travel in style or else those Europeans might think we were a subprime state. Mercedes will probably build a plant here just because of this limo ride. This is just good business.
2. Taxpayers paid for alcohol which is against state policy. It’s cold in Russia. So I don’t think we should condemn for taking a drink. And remember “convention behavior.” It’s good for the Russians to think we’re a bunch of drunks. That promotes that high-class cultural image we‘re trying to project. I hope none of those “prudent” public servants did any table dances or anything. Godless!
1. What is a ‘prudent’ public servant anyway? My wife doesn’t work for the state and she is about as big a prude as there is. I thought public servants were part of the patronage system. Or that they worked for the DOT. Does ’prudent’ mean unfriendly?
It has been rumored that a cultural coup d’etat has already happened. Flavor Flav is reportedly going to do a reality show with some Russian girls, to be filmed at Randy Parton’s Theater. Flavor Flav was heard to say, “I’m going to Carolina. Those dudes know how to party. Did you hear the money they blew over there with the Russkies. Those Tar Heels are some partying dudes. We’ve hired a hermit and everything. I can’t wait to eat a $60.00 cheeseburger. They don’t even cost that much in Hollywood. I can’t wait to see Governor Opie! This is gonna be a blast!”
Perdue's travel records???
October 30, 2008 - 8:05am — concerned53The obscene expenditures by the Easley's are just another example of the abuse of power that permeates Raleigh and the Easley/Perdue Power Elite.
In fact, has Beverly ever released her travel records for the past 8 years? Certainly, either her office, the State Auditor or the Commerce Department has her travel records and those of her staff. Shame on the N&O and other media outlets if they are not released until after the election. What does she have to hide? Could she in fact be another Mary Easley but in nicer clothes?