DENISH USED STATE PLANES 143 TIMES,

The Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, uses state aircraft far less than New Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson and Lt. Governor Diane Denish.  An investigation by Texas Watchdog found the Texas Governor uses state aircraft “sparingly,” reserving use of the planes for emergency or state business requiring transportation of large numbers of people for long distances, thus making the use of state aircraft cost effective.  Texas Watchdog, no lap dog for politicians of any affiliation in the Lone Star State, called Perry’s use of state aircraft “spartan.”

Richardson and Denish, by contrast, have been found by Thom Cole, investigative reporter for The Albuquerque Journal, and this site, to be frequent fliers in state aircraft.  Taxpayers have paid more than $208,000 for Denish’s use of state planes.  Records from the New Mexico General Services Department show Denish used state aircraft 143 times between April 1, 2003 and November 9, 2009.  Both politicians have used state aircraft to attend parades, and brief ceremonies and meetings.  They fly at times alone or with one staff person.  The hourly rate on the state’s newest jet exceeds $1,200 an hour for the plane and two pilots.

We found that Denish spent more more than $50,000 in federal stimulus funds to fly herself, staff, and family around New Mexico.  None of Denish’s flights were for emergencies.

Thom Cole reports on Richardson using state aircraft following political event in Illinois.

New Mexico Watchdog report on Denish state aircraft use.

“Perry does most of his air travel in planes paid for through his campaign,” Alison Castle Perry’s press secretary told Texas Watchdog.

Texas Watchdog found that the Texas Governor’s most intense use of the planes came in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Gov. Perry, almost always traveling with his wife Anita and several staff members, flew eight times between Sept. 3, 2008, and Sept. 24, 2008, to stricken areas and to visit with evacuees, according to the flight manifests.  Our review of the records obtained by Texas Watchdog shows that other than those emergenicy flights, the Texas Governor used state aircraft five times during the year examined.

Denish’s flight records from 2003 through 2009 show 143 flights, with the heaviest use of state planes in months leading to primary or general elections.  For instance in October 2008, she used state aircraft five times, charging taxpayers a total $5,951.  On one roundtrip flight to Farmington, made within the space of a less than a day, the only passenger besides the Lt. Gov. was her husband.

During the same period of time for which Texas Watchdog examined Perry’s plane use, Denish used state planes 26 times.

Spreadsheet showing Denish’s state aircraft usage and charges to taxpayers for each flight.

Denish charged taxpayers $208,729.17 for her use of state aircraft through November 9, 2009.

Denish, New Mexico’s Lt. Governor, will the Democratic nominee for Governor.  Before being elected Texas governor, Perry served as the state’s Lt. Governor.