Department of Commerce Secretary Jim Fain billed frugally while he was in Italy.
Fain's expense report for his time in Italy shows he only billed the state $1,218 for expenses he incurred in the country in April as part of a business and tourism recruiting delegation. Fain's expenses billed to taxpayers were typically less than the amount billed by other members of the delegation. Gov. Mike Easley and his wife, Mary Easley were in Italy for the trip.
The bill from Fain and four state troopers along for security were not included in the $170,000 tab previously reported because the paperwork wasn't made available in time for the story. The new bills, including a $17,573 charge for four airline tickets for the troopers, total $30,538. For those counting, that puts the total cost of the trip to Italy right around $200,000.
The trip raised a few eyebrows for some of the expenses, such as $50,000 for two vehicles and a driver for the first couple. One lunch in Rome cost an average of $90 per person. Mary Easley was also a member of delegations that went to France and Russia at a cost to taxpayers of more than $109,000.
More after the jump.
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In Italy, Fain typically charged $19 a day for dinner — the limit for state employees. (State rules allow higher spending in expensive places.) Fain personally paid for the room service Cokes ordered to a hotel room in Padova that he and his wife shared. His wife paid most of her own way, according to Fain's expense report.
It's difficult to say what other members of the delegation billed because meals for several state officials were often paid for by one person. Those dinner checks typically exceeded $19 per person.
Easley, and Fain have said that just one new or expanded business in the state would more than pay for the cost of the trip in new revenue. State officials say the Italy trip led to four or five potential business deals for the state. Easley said he wishes the prices in Europe weren't so high, but that the trip was necessary.
Like Fain's, the troopers daily expenses were in line with the state's guidelines for travel expenses. One or two of the troopers were sometimes at the table for the more expensive meals.
Fain has a reputation for traveling without too much extravagance. It's worth noting, however, that he signed his expense form a week after a story in The News & Observer reported the cost of the Italy trip.
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Re: Sticking our heads in the sand- Brilliant
ThomasPaine, have you ever actually read any Paine?
"Government by precedent, without any regard to the principle of the precedent, is one of the vilest systems that can be set up. In numerous instances, the precedent ought to operate as a warning, and not as an example, and requires to be shunned instead of imitated" --- Rights of Man.
Paine would recognize the Easleys in a moment, petty yet arrogant nobles on the make.
JAT