Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Doyle “Defends” Failing to Follow Travel Policy

Bwhahahaha!

“Nothing I do is secret or undocumented, as they claim,” Doyle said in a meeting with The Post-Crescent editorial board.

A recent report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, based on an investigation by the paper, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and a University of Wisconsin-Madison reporting class, found that “three-fourths of the time in 2007 and 2008, Doyle and his staff didn’t supply receipts as required under state travel policy.”

Doyle defended his office’s record keeping. He said he uses credit cards in travel “to make sure that every expense was accounted for” and that credit card bills show what was purchased.

First, the travel policy specifically states that he must provide receipts.  He hasn’t.  He may think that credit card statements are fine, but that doesn’t make it comply to policy.  Furthermore, he DID provide receipts 25% of the time, so someone apparently thought that it was necessary to file them.  Perhaps if Doyle had never filed a single receipt, his excuse would fly.  It would still be against policy, but at least it would be consistent. 

Second, credit card statements are nowhere near as accountable as actual receipts.  A credit card statement may tell us that Doyle spent $5,000 at the Hilton.  That’s all it tells us.  The receipt will tell us how many nights he stayed and the room rate.  It will tell us the taxes.  It will also tell us if he was getting room service, massages, or wine sent up to the room.  In other words, a receipt tells us whether or not he is actually complying with the rest of the travel policy or not.  A credit card statement does none of that, which is exactly why the travel policy requires a receipt. 

Doyle is arrogantly and flagrantly violating state policy.

(7) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1704 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. Living large on the backs of Wisconsinites while saying he’s standing up for the working families of Wisconsin. 

    He’s the epitome of the Democratic party of Wisconsin.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 08, 2009 at 1722 hrs


  2. What sort of action can be brought against Doyle?  Does this rise to misconduct in public office?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 08, 2009 at 1807 hrs


  3. Doyle is arrogant and flagrant about everything, bastard.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 09, 2009 at 0759 hrs


  4. Wow!  Can we all adopt the Governor’s standard on receipts?  A man who for how many years was the State’s top law enforcement officer would have to know that credit card statements are not an acceptable standard for substantiating expenses for either a federal or state tax audit!  In such cases the deductions are simply denied.  Why should our public officials spending our money be any different?  No receipt, no reimbursement, or in this case, dock his pay for the unsubstantiated expenses.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 09, 2009 at 1341 hrs


  5. do you have a link to the travel policy that states receipts are needed for every expense, because the general policy for state employees indicates that you can submit expense reports and claim the regulated “per diem” food expense reimbursement without receipts.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 09, 2009 at 1344 hrs


  6. Per Diem doesn’t cover hotels and most of the meals far exceeded the per diem.  But you’re right.  If he stayed under the per diem, then he wouldn’t need to submit a receipt. 

    I’ve had an expense account for most of my career.  I’ve worked at companies where you paid for everything and was only reimbursed upon submission of the receipts.  I’ve had a company credit card where I would be docked the expense if I didn’t pay a receipt.  In most cases, the company would accept a credit card statement on a rare occasion if you lost the receipt, but not if it was a regular occurrence or for a large expense.  For example, if I lost that $7 receipt for Subway, they’d accept the credit card statement.  If I lost all of my receipts for an entire month, then I’m screwed. 

    In my current role, I approve (or deny) expense reports and have to enforce the travel policy.  I’d be docking Doyle’s pay for the expenses without receipts and writing him up for losing them.  If it continues, I’d fire him.  Fortunately for Doyle, he doesn’t have to live in the real world.

    Posted by Owen on July 09, 2009 at 1355 hrs


  7. Trying to compare how a private company deals with expenses and how the State of Wisconsin does it is an effort in futility.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 15, 2009 at 1923 hrs


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