Sink: Review found plane use justified
CFO Alex Sink, under fire recently for her use of the state plane, says a review of how she uses state planes found the trips were justified. But it's worth noting that the review was led by her subordinate Jim Cassady, her chief of staff who also worked with her when she led Bank of America in Florida. It does not address some of the issues raised by a recent state audit. And there is no written report, said Sink spokeswoman Kyra Jennings.
Sink said she now wants the Cabinet to "clarify the rules" for when a Cabinet member can be picked up or dropped off outside of Tallahassee in connection with a trip involving state business.
She just released the statement below on the completion of "thorough review" of her department’s use of the state plane.
“Because of recent inquiries regarding Cabinet members’ use of state airplanes, I directed my office to review all flights I have taken on state airplanes as CFO. Jim Cassady, my chief of staff, led the review. He has now reviewed the Department of Management Services (DMS) flight logs, my schedule, and all travel itineraries surrounding each of my trips.
“The review found that all flights were made in conjunction with official DFS business. In the rare instances when I was accompanied by a member of my immediate family on a state airplane, I promptly asked DMS to bill me for the cost, and paid the state out of my personal funds as required.
“I am asking DMS to clarify the rules as to when a Cabinet member may be picked up or dropped off outside of Tallahassee in conjunction with a trip that involves state business. I have always worked to use the state airplane in a manner that is consistent with the existing guidelines.
“In the interests of transparency and disclosure, I called for DMS to post online all flight logs for members of the Cabinet. This information is now available to the public. I am now asking DMS to clarify their guidelines for the use of state airplanes.”
Democrat's use of plane prompts GOP-Dorworth, Crisafulli, Horner and Hudson to call for probe: http://bit.ly/17aNi
Posted by: beachbum | July 10, 2009 at 06:52 PM
Democrat's use of plane prompts GOP-Dorworth, Crisafulli, Horner and Hudson to call for probe: http://bit.ly/17aNi
Posted by: beachbum | July 10, 2009 at 06:52 PM
In a related story, 85,000 of Florida's inmates were found innocent today when their cellmates concluded impartial reviews of their criminal records.
The other 15,000 inmates, although probably innocent as well, admitted that prison is safer than the ghettos from which they came.
Posted by: smitty | July 10, 2009 at 07:58 PM
That's what I call an impartial investigation!! Cassady managed her CFO campaign, also came from Bank of America (like Sink) and has been her Chief of Staff since the day she was elected.
Some Pulitzer prize winning rag ought to ask for the full investigative report, notes, and interview summaries for this "investigation." There are no public records exemptions barring the release of any such reports and back-up documentation--if they exist.
She could have engaged in an employee interchange agreement and had another Inspector General's investigator (from another agency) conduct a professional investigation. For some reason she opted against that.
Posted by: Ben | July 10, 2009 at 08:43 PM