Doyle Defends Expensive Travel at Taxpayers’ Expense

Sounds like a nice perk.

Gov. Jim Doyle defended his commerce secretary’s travel expenses today, saying the job requires touting Wisconsin businesses in the United States and abroad.

“I want a commerce secretary that’s out promoting Wisconsin products,” Doyle told reporters today after announcing the state is buying more renewable energy.

The Journal Sentinel reported Sunday that Commerce Secretary Jack Fischer has frequently charged $80 dinners for himself to taxpayers while overseas. He also stayed one night in a hotel that cost $555.

[...]

Doyle said Fischer had paid back all personal expenses - including $520 in laundry and dry cleaning - that he initially charged to taxpayers. State rules say no personal expenses should be charged on state credit cards, even if employees intend to reimburse the costs.

Fischer has extended his state travel to include vacations. He has paid his own way on vacation time, but records show he has not fully documented whether extending the trips have increased costs for taxpayers with higher airfare or other costs.

Fischer has taken administrative assistant Deborah Godt with him on his three international trips. Previous commerce secretaries and Doyle himself have always traveled with higher-level staff.

You know what I would like to see?  Results.  Could Doyle please point me to a tangible outcome of these trips?