Cautions for use of executive ‘perks’ and for prom

Congratulations to State Auditor Rita Meyer for using common sense and watching taxpayer dollars.
In an Associated Press article last week, it was reported that four of the five top statewide elected officials drive their state-issued vehicles on personal vacations, calling it a “long-standing perk.” The only official to not drive her vehicle for personal use is Meyer.
According to the article, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jim McBride drove his state-issued Ford Explorer more than 3,000 miles to pick up his mother-in-law in Pennsylvania, and, in addition, charged gas purchased to the state credit card.
What is wrong with these people? This is taxpayer money they are abusing. It’s not a perk.
The governor said since they are assigned the vehicles for business and personal use, it’s up to them how they use it. No, it’s not. It is a government vehicle. If other state employees do not get the same perk, why should these elected officials get a very generous perk, especially in these economic times. If they are on a business trip and take a friend to dinner that’s different. But using the state vehicle for a strictly personal trip should not be allowed.
McBride said if the legislature wants to restrict the use, he will abide by their decisions. Why should it have to be something that’s legislated and not something that’s common sense. Why should we, as taxpayers, pay for McBride’s trip to Pennsylvania, and other officials’ vacations.
When I had to borrow the Lovell Chronicle vehicle years, with my car totaled, I kept track of the personal miles on that vehicle, including the short distance from my home to work. I paid taxes on that. Why? Because it was the right thing to do. I did not expect my boss to pay for gas or give me free use of a vehicle to go to movies, shopping and run personal errands. While I appreciated the use of the vehicle, I did not abuse the use.
While most jobs have a “perk” of some sort or another, it should not come at the expense of others, and in this case it is — at the expense of the taxpayer.
With the use of this perk out in the open now, I hope the other four officials will rethink how they use their state-issued vehicles, especially in these economic times, but by some of the comments made in the AP article, I am sure until they are forced to do so, they will not change their behavior and we taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for their vacations.
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The Republican Rustler would also like to take this time to wish all the Riverside students attending Saturday’s prom a safe and enjoyable evening.
With no after-prom party scheduled, we hope the students will make smart decisions, as outlined in the underage and driving impaired awareness presentation last week.
Parents, and or, other adults, need also be aware that they can be held criminally and civilly liable for sponsoring a party where alcohol is available to those underage, or for providing alcohol. We hope students and adults make smart choices this weekend and that a high school event does not end in tragedy.
---Karla Pomeroy