Yesterday, our state's second-most trusted news released a detailed report on all the travel expenses Mary Fallin has accrued during her first 18 months in office. It's an amusing piece. Here are some of the highlights:
More than a quarter of a million dollars in public and private funds have been spent on travel and related security for Gov. Mary Fallin, her family and staff.
Taxpayers have spent at least $196,057 on travel and security since she took office in January 2011.
The figure does not include recent trips to Canada, Virginia, England and Detroit...
During her term, she has championed economic development, tax cuts and efficiencies in state government.
She has made a number of business trips to New York City and Washington, D.C.
She has attended several National Governors Association, Republican Governors Association and chamber events.
In May 2011, Fallin attended a wind energy conference in California. The cost was $7,522.
In September 2011, she went to New York City for an education summit. The cost was $8,058.
In October 2011, she traveled to California for the Most Powerful Women Summit. The cost was $7,333...
In October 2011, Fallin and her husband traveled to Dallas for the University of Oklahoma versus the University of Texas football game. The cost was $4,542.
"She also had several economic development and business meetings with companies that included American Airlines and AT&T," Weintz said.
In December 2011, Fallin and her husband traveled to Arizona to watch Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma compete in bowl games. The couple also stopped in Las Vegas. The total cost was $15,309.
She has made more than a dozen trips to Ketchum.
Fallin and her husband have a house on Grand Lake, Weintz said. She only uses the state plane to travel to Ketchum if she is already on businesses elsewhere using the plane, Weintz said.
She has also vacationed in Ireland, the Bahamas and San Juan.
In March 2011, Fallin and her family took the state plane to Miami and got a commercial flight to the Bahamas. The state cost was $13,376.
In June 2011, Fallin and her family traveled to Ireland where her daughter, Christina, was married. The cost was $13,230. The marriage was later annulled. Christina Fallin has since remarried.
In March, Fallin and her family vacationed in San Juan. The cost to the state was $1,844.
The vacation expenses are mostly for the security detail, Weintz said.
Comparable figures for former Gov. Brad Henry were not available.