According to a comprehensive analysis by the Associated Press, it appears South Dakota taxpayers have been footing more than their fair share due to the national campaigning of Gov. Kristi Noem. As she traveled across the country campaigning for former President Trump while increasing her political visibility, she skillfully avoided open discussion about the financial burden of these trips for South Dakotan taxpayers.
Recently, it’s been brought to light that the state of South Dakota was handed the invoice for a significant chunk of expenses linked to Noem’s energetic political agenda. It’s interesting to note that more than $150,000 of these expenses were associated with her individual political undertakings and peripheral activities, and did not directly support the state’s business activities.
Surprisingly enough, the travel costs included many jaunts to Palm Beach, Florida, the former residence of Trump before assuming presidential office again. Regardless of the nature of her travels, the mostly state-funded security detail was always in tow, making citizens of South Dakota bear these unnecessary costs.
Looking at her travel expenses over a span of six years as governor, the Associated Press reports indicated that South Dakota footed more than $640,000 in bills pertaining to the governor’s office. These expenses are both shocking and revealing upon closer examination.
Some of these arguably questionable expenses include a whopping $7,555 on airfare for a six-day trip to Paris, during which Noem addressed a gathering identified with right-wing viewpoints. Also, interestingly, the governor’s trip to Canada for a bear hunt along with her niece, as well as a book tour landing in New York, were all chalked up to the South Dakotan taxpayers bill.
Taking a closer look, it is revealed that a further $2,200 emerged out of a controversial tooth operation trip to Houston, which she publicised on her Instagram, once again charged to the state. Last month, these expenditures were made public following a lawsuit pushed by The Dakota Scout, leading to a public outcry.
These extravagant expenses, far removed from serving the state’s interests, have been met with severe criticism by Republicans in the predominantly Republican-leaning state. Numerous GOP lawmakers expressed their disgruntlement at Noem, suggesting she was leveraging state funds to accelerate her political career.
This form of financial misappropriation comes at a peculiar time while the Trump administration pledges to crack down on government waste, fraud, and mistreatment of funds. Interestingly, Noem recently became the head of Homeland Security, one of the biggest federal agencies, operating on a budget astronomically larger than South Dakota’s.
Dennis Daugaard, a former Republican South Dakota governor, voiced his views stating this ‘offends a lot of people’. Daugaard suggested that such a ginormous cost fueled by Noem’s ambition for a loftier political position could have centered on campaign funding instead.
The expenditure incurred has left many Republicans in a state of disbelief. GOP state senator Taffy Howard, who had earlier butted heads with Noem over her refusal to disclose travel expenses, expressed her shock at the staggering cost. ‘It seems like an incredible amount of money,’ Howard conveyed to AP.
While state taxpayers certainly bore a significant burden, it’s important to mention that there’s little evidence that any laws were contravened concerning state-funded security expenses, even if they benefited Noem more than the general public of South Dakota. A spokesperson for Noem’s gubernatorial successor has justified these costs as ‘a matter of state business no matter where the governor may be.’
Noem, during her tenure, often avoided discussing travel expenses, saying it would threaten her personal safety. The state of South Dakota does have a more relaxed stance on disclosure requirements compared to other states when it comes to expenses related to these types of travel.
To finish, it’s worth noting that this policy isn’t limited to one political party. Governors across the political spectrum have taken advantage of state funds to shoulder security detail and staff travel expenses. For instance, Democrat Jay Inslee of Washington faced criticism for not repaying the state for similar costs during his 2019 presidential campaign. However, he wisely decided to leave the race, unlike certain other ambitious politicians.
The post Kristi Noem: Political Ambition Over South Dakota’s Financial Health? appeared first on Real News Now.
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