So let's look at Claire Mama Caskill's latest ethics issue. From Politico:
Sen. Claire McCaskill has been aggressive in promoting oversight and transparency for congressional travel, introducing a reform bill that cracks down on overseas travel for lawmakers.
But when it comes to her own domestic flights, the Missouri Democrat has enjoyed friendly skies: She’s spent nearly $76,000 in public funds since 2007 to fly on a charter plane she co-owns with her husband and other investors, a POLITICO analysis of public records show.
As a senator, McCaskill has flown at least 89 flights chartered by Sunset Cove Associates LLC — a company incorporated in 2002 by her husband, St. Louis businessman Joe Shepard, according to records kept by the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office. All of those flights were paid for from McCaskill’s Senate office budget, raising questions about whether the first-term senator and her husband are using public dollars to partially subsidize their aircraft.
It appears Claire Mama Caskill hopes this little problem will just go away. She got her checkbook out and wrote the US Treasury an $88,000 check to cover her flights. However, if the Politico had not investigated this and next year wasn't an election year, Senator McCaskill would still have $88,000 in her own personal checking account.
Remember that next time Senator McCaskill attempts to sell herself as fiscally responsible.
