“Governor Bullock Hits Some Turbulence”

Democrat Governor Steve Bullock’s use of the Montana state plane for campaign events continues to create headaches for the governor’s re-election hopes. As a recent campaign finance report shows, Bullock continues to use the state plane for travel to campaign related events, only reimbursing the state – a small percentage of the actual costs – once he was caught and forced to do so. The Billings Gazettehighlights Governor Bullock’s “plane-gate” scandal on the front page of their print edition, in a story that also notes how Bullock’s office refused to disclose where exactly the plane – which operates at taxpayer expense – was flown, reiterating the fact that Bullock believes he is above the law and unaccountable to Montana taxpayers.

“Montana Gov. Steve Bullock’s use of a state plane for campaigning continues, according to election finance reports in which his campaign paid the state $1,155 for airfare. Campaign finance reports filled Monday by the Bullock Campaign with the Commissioner of Political Practices, didn’t go into detail about the expenses covered. But an invoice from the Office of the Governor included nine flights, for which the state requested Bullock’s campaign pay for pilot salaries and benefits associated with waiting for Bullock, a Democrat, to return from non-government events, such as fundraising. The invoice listed 15½ hours of pilot time, and the dates in which the hours were incurred. The governor’s office didn’t disclose what, if any, official purpose the flight had, or where the government airplane was flown, or the campaign events for which the pilot’s shift was extended.” (Tom Lutey, “Governor Hits Some Turbulence,” Billings Gazette, 8/4/2016)

BACKGROUND: 

Bullock Criticized For Piggybacking Campaign Stops Onto Official Business Flights. “Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is being criticized for piggybacking campaign events onto government business trips in his state airplane. At issue are a handful of campaign fundraisers branded as ‘Women for Bullock’ events that capped business flights to Montana communities during the past month. Criticism of the flights surfaced on social media after it was mentioned in a Feb. 10 Associated Press report that Bullock, a Democrat, was unavailable for comment because he was in Billings making peanut butter sandwiches for the homeless and attending a campaign fundraiser. Bullock had flown to Billings for those events, plus a TV interview and a meeting with a union official. Similar business trips capped by campaign fundraisers also took place in Bozeman and Missoula. State law generally prohibits use of public resources for political purposes.” (Tom Lutey, “Bullock Criticized For Piggybacking Campaign Stops Onto Official Business Flights,” Billings Gazette, 3/11/2016)

Bullock Using The Montana State Plane For Campaign Events Was Not Accidental. “It seems to us Bullock’s trips across the state that seem to magically coincide with fund-raising events aren’t just accidental. And, it makes sense from a time and resource perspective to pair those events. However, it raises the question: Should the taxpayers of Montana be on the hook to foot Bullock’s expense as he tries to raise more money? Why should he get a free ride when his opponents don’t get the same opportunity? And, just saying that Bullock is doing what others before him have done is a lousy excuse that we shouldn’t tolerate. Because someone else did the wrong thing shouldn’t excuse it forever into the future.” (Editorial, “Plane-Gate May Mean More Rules Necessary,” Billings Gazette, 3/16/2016)

Blocking Information Requests On His Use Of The State Plane, Bullock Takes Advantage Of Taxpayer Resources. “The Gazette began asking for the governor’s travel itinerary and emails related to this trip more than a month ago. We’d point out that a simple calendar request should not take this long.  We’re not certain what is so cumbersome about releasing Bullock’s schedules or his email. It only gives the appearance that Bullock has something to hide, or that it looks exactly like he’s taking advantage of a taxpayer resource. It’s funny that this issue really has nothing to do with a plane and everything to do with openness, transparency and accountability. Few would argue that the governor of the fourth largest geographic state needs plane travel. It’s a matter of using state property and funds correctly.” (Editorial, “Plane-Gate May Mean More Rules Necessary,” Billings Gazette, 3/16/2016)

Bullock Used The State Plane To Attend A Paul McCartney Concert. “After a row over inappropriate uses of the state airplane, Montana Governor Steve Bullock is now being asked if that plane was used for personal enjoyment. Flight logs indicate that the state plane landed at Missoula International Airport at 4:03 P.M., just about an hour before the doors were open to the public at the Paul McCartney concert on August 5, 2014. The concert was possibly the highest profile music event in Montana’s history and many high-profile attendees were in the crowd, including Montana Governor Steve Bullock.”  (Jon King, “State Plane Came To Missoula, Apparently For Governor To Attend Paul McCartney Concert,” KGVO, 7/9/2016)

Bullock’s Use Of State Plane Displays Duplicity. “On Feb. 16, Gov. Steve Bullock flew to Missoula from Helena to conduct ‘state’ business, which also happened to ‘conveniently’ coincide with a campaign event, using the state’s turboprop airplane, at a cost of not less than $1,000/hour. A 115-mile drive, it’s probably an 80-mile flight; not the type of flight for which this plane is designed. More offensive is that he’s flying to a destination that includes a campaign event, using state equipment/taxpayer funds to do so. This has been an ongoing practice of this governor (the same modus operandi recently used for campaign events in Billings and Bozeman). Despite funding his campaign with untold amounts of “dark money” (perhaps millions) from his stint as chair of the DGA, he persists in thumbing his nose at taxpayers from Montana by using state property on campaign trips.” (Brad Tschida, “Column: Bullock’s Use Of State Plan Displays Duplicity,” Missoulian, 3/10/2016)

Bullock Suffers From A Lack Of Credibility, Trust And Transparency. “Bullock’s handling of both Walsh and McLean were mistakes. To us, it boils down to trust. How can we trust the Bullock administration to appoint good leaders, and how can we have faith that the answers given aren’t just spin? We have to trust our governor, and this most recent episode should leave Montanans yearning to rebuild credibility, trust and transparency.” (Editorial, “What’s Really Going On In Montana Governor’s Office?” Billings Gazzette, 12/16/2015)