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MADISON - Gov. Jim Doyle's travel
records show the governor and his staff failed to properly account for
145 travel expenses over two years, according to a newspaper report
published Sunday.
The report, a collaboration between a Milwaukee newspaper,
the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and a University of
Wisconsin-Madison journalism class, said Doyle and his staff did not
supply travel receipts nearly 75 percent of the time in 2007 and 2008.
Doyle's travel expenses that came
without receipts included a $5,200 business-class flight to Ireland, a
$654-a-night stay in a London hotel and more than $1,500 on two
chauffeured vehicles in Canada.
The report did not call into question
the legality of the trips, but said the Democratic governor and his
staff failed to follow state rules when it comes to documenting the
expenses. State policy requires employees to provide receipts for
purchases made with their state-issued credit cards for flights,
hotels and other expenses.
But Susan Goodwin, Doyle's chief of
staff, said the governor's office acted appropriately in all cases.
And she said the governor won't change how he tracks travel expenses.
"We will not limit his role or
chain him down and not allow him to fulfill his duties as
governor," Goodwin said, adding that Doyle is more frugal than
many governors.
And Chandra Miller Fienen, Doyle's
chief legal counsel, said the governor's frequent travel has led to
him tracking expenses differently than other state employees. Still,
that process adheres to the state travel policy's intent, Miller
Fienen said.
"We have an understanding with the
Department of Administration, and it's very unique to just the unique
situation of the governor," she said.
At least one lawmaker has criticized
Doyle and his staff for failing to keep good records.
"The governor, as leader of the
state, needs to set an example on austerity and accountability,"
said Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay and member of the Joint Audit
Committee.
Overall, the governor and his staff
spent more than $105,000 on travel over two years, according to state
records. Of the 186 charges made on state credit cards during that
period, receipts were provided 52 times.
About two-thirds of the 145 policy
violations were missing hotel receipts.
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