in Houston, Texas
Rep. Joe Driver says he will correct double-billed expenses to campaign and state; AP found $17K in expenses billed to both
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2010, 11:39AM CST
By Mark Lisheron

Longtime state Rep. Joe Driver, a staunch anti-spending conservative, has admitted years of billing both the state of Texas and his own campaign fund for thousands of dollars for the same travel expenses.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Driver, R-Garland, has double billed for $17,431.55 for travel expenses going back to 2005, according to its examination of Driver's travel expense records. He has also received from the state thousands of dollars in mileage reimbursements for his vehicles, at the same time billing his own campaign for more than $100,000 since 2000.

When approached by an Associated Press reporter with the findings of their investigation, Driver, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a member since 1993, said he had thought the double-billing was all right. When explained to him, Driver said, "Now you're scaring the heck out of me. It pretty well screws my week."

In a written statement late Monday night, Driver said he had consulted House "ethics specialists" and determined that he had made errors in his campaign reports but denied ever misusing state tax dollars.

"Not one tax dollar was misspent due to my mistake on this and any mistakes that were made are being corrected immediately," Driver said.

Contact Mark Lisheron at 512-299-2318 or mark@texaswatchdog.org.

Comments
Bob Shurtleff
Tuesday, 08/17/2010 - 01:47PM

This politician obviously doesn't know the difference between right and wrong. He admitted that he has pocketed thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for travel expenses that his campaign fund had alrready reimbursed. His approach to entitlement is precisly the kind of that we need to eliminate from our government and our society.

Chuck Nichols
Friday, 08/27/2010 - 10:52AM

This is getting old. If the average person commits a moral or criminal act such as theft or adultery, they are branded as such by society or the courts. If a politician does the same thing, it's a "mistake" and too often glossed over and forgotten.

We are at a point in our history where we need to remember the things our elected officials say and do, and vote accordingly. If an official makes the choice to enrich themselves at our expense, seeks to impose taxes, supports enemies of our country by word or deed, vote them out. American politics is not necessarily a two party system. If electing independents is appropriate, so be it. Perhaps we can rid our country of the jaded career politicians, thieves, perverts, and thugs we are too often seeing for who they are.

Dig for the facts and the truth which we don't consistently find in the media. Remember what these people do and vote accordingly. It is time to ipmose honesty on our elected officials whether they like it or not.

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