Enter the newest cheating politician, South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford with his disappearance and affair. Despite the controversy surrounding his affair, it's not his sex life that caught my interest today, it's GOP Senator Dave Thomas' movement toward Sanford's impeachment. His grounds? Misusing state funds for travel. According to South Carolina state law, all travel must be done by the most economical means possible. Gov. Sanford decided this meant First Class, which ended up costing South Carolina an additional $13,700.
There is no doubt this is a violation of state law, and thus a legitimate grounds for impeachment. It matters not how much extra money is spent. If the law says you shouldn't fly first class, YOU DON'T FLY FIRST CLASS! But the real question is, would this really have been an issue if Thomas wasn't looking for a reason to get Sanford out of office because of his sexual escapades? While I'd like to thinkthe spending would be noticed, the CATO Institute's 2008 report on Governors' spending (warning, the PDF is long, but true political nerds will enjoy!) actually give Sanford an A! Thus while he might have over shot his personal budget, overall, Sanford did what he was supposed to do.
Idealistically, Sanford would be impeached (or even resign). He broke the law and his marriage vows. But this is an illusion. A little less than 14K is nothing to a large city budget, let a lone a state budget. Sanford will likely finish out his term and not be re-elected.
Adulterer or not, can we move on?
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