COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - An Associated Press investigation has
found that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford relied on charter jet
services costing more than $63,000 when traveling in Europe on two
state business trips.
According to the average of current ticket prices listed on a
Web booking site, commercial flights for those trips would have
saved the state more than $41,000. But state officials say the
governor and others couldn't fly commercial because of time
constraints.
The use of expensive charters surprised a former state economic
development director who said less costly commercial travel in
Europe was the norm during his tenure under governors Dick Riley
and Carroll Campbell. Two other former governors confirmed they
flew commercial unless traveling to remote areas.
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