Question Reimbursement Figure To The State For Nonofficial Use

A group of 44 Republican legislators in Montana have sent a letter to Democratic Governor Steve Bullock (pictured) asking for additional information concerning his reimbursements for nonofficial use of a state airplane.

The letter, written by Rep. Brad Tschida, (R-Missoula) and signed by 43 additional GOP members of the legislature says the group is "alarmed that you have failed to specifically define and outline the scenarios in which the taxpayers will be reimbursed for the increased costs associated with using the state plane to conduct official state business and attend campaign events," according to a report from the Great Falls Tribune.

The letter, which was faxed to the Governor and his chief legal counsel, led to counter accusations that the GOP candidate, RightNow Technologies founder Greg Gianforte, had also misused air travel in his campaign. Republicans responded that Gianforte's travel had been properly documented, and used a plane owned by Bozeman Technology Incubator, an LLC that he also founded.

In the letter, Tschida calls for a full accounting as to how Bullock arrived at a reimbursement figure of $2,700 for use of a state airplane. He also criticized the Governor for flying to events to which he could have driven.

Bullock issued a new state policy concerning use of the state's airplane on March 18. Bullock said his new policy is in accordance with a longstanding policy allowing the plane to be used to conduct business, and that any campaign event on the same day must be "ancillary."

(Official photos)

FMI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_gubernatorial_election,_2016