While cutting travel for employees, Mo. governor keeps flying _ and passing costs to others

Mo. governor flies while cutting others’ travel

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered state employees to travel less because of budget troubles. But an analysis by The Associated Press shows Nixon has not reduced his travel on state airplanes.

In fact, a month after announcing travel cuts for employees, Nixon increased his own airplane travel.

Flight records obtained by the AP under the Sunshine Law show Nixon flew on state aircraft about once every three days during the past year. And he has continued to charge the costs to state agencies instead of his office.

Nixon defends the flights as essential to his job. He says it’s important for a governor to be in all corners of the state.

Governors in some states reduced their taxpayer-funded flights as budget pressures mounted.