Leave it to the laziest reporter in Missouri journalism to come to ‘Sen. Shams’ defense. Honestly, doesn’t this read like it was written by someone in McCaskill’s press shop?

St. Louis Beacon

The issue didn’t stick. One reason: Travel records for the Republican incumbent at the time, Jim Talent, showed that he had paid for flights on planes owned by at least three corporations, including one owned by Harbour Group Industries. The chief executive is Sam Fox, one of Missouri’s top Republicans.

Talent also had paid $30,000 to the Republican National Committee for travel costs.

Both candidates were paying roughly the same per flight hour — about $1,000 to $1,500. Talent’s flight bills were far higher — close to $200,000, all told — because he was flying a lot more than McCaskill. Most of Talent’s chartered flights were through Jefferson City Flying Service, a firm used for years by candidates in both parties.

Private-plane use is virtually mandatory for any statewide candidate in Missouri because of the lack of commercial flights to most Missouri communities.

UPDATE: McCaskill’s staff maintains that she actually spends less taxpayer money than she would if she had been chartering private planes through other companies because of a lower flight-hour cost; her payments average about $900 a flight hour. Former Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond, R-Mo., reported spending far more on charter flights — about $100,000 of taxpayer-supplied money in just six months.

Sad! This obvious shilling for McCaskill would almost be legitimate if Claire Bear wasn’t trying to fashion herseslf as some  moderate and fiscal hawk while she’s been in the senate! This is not the first time questions have been raised about Claire’s campaigns and her spending:

AP Questions Sources of Funds McCaskill Using to Repay Campaign Debts

Hsuflies Hovering Around McCaskills Dirty Money

Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party, had this to say about Claire’s abuse of the taxpayer: “

“Time after time, Missourians have watched as Claire McCaskill says one thing and does the opposite. McCaskill complained about excessive government spending—then she voted for the failed stimulus bill, Obamacare, and bailout after bailout. She criticized cap-and-trade legislation—then she voted to allow the EPA to impose draconian regulations of carbon dioxide. She condemned extravagant taxpayer-funded travel by members of Congress—then she billed taxpayers for her own travel on her husband’s private plane. Although she pretends to be different, Claire McCaskill is exactly the kind of double-speaking Washington politician that Missourians are sick and tired of.””

Related:

EdmartinForMissouri.com: www.AirClaire.com

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