Jay Nixon's campaign reimburses state another $8,618

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Attorney General Jay Nixon's gubernatorial campaign has sent the state an additional $8,618 for the political use of state employees and vehicles after the state auditor found his initial payment insufficient.

The campaign had repaid more than $47,000 for using state vehicles and employees for political purposes from November 2004 to October 2007. But Gov. Matt Blunt's administration had complained that was insufficient and not backed up by records.

State Auditor Susan Montee reviewed Nixon's reimbursement at Nixon's request. A letter announcing her finding was dated Tuesday, but it wasn't publicized until Blunt's administration issued a news release about the conclusions Friday.

Nixon's campaign said Friday that it had mailed the check Wednesday.

"We wanted to make sure the campaign properly reimbursed the state, which is why we asked the auditor to conduct this review in the first place," said Nixon campaign spokesman Oren Shur.

In a written statement, Rich AuBuchon, Blunt's deputy commissioner for administration, said he was satisfied with the auditor's findings.

Montee's review of Nixon's reimbursements concludes the attorney general's campaign overpaid by $7,164 for staff salaries. But it underpaid by $15,782 for their fringe benefits, meals, lodging and mileage.

Those figures are based partially on mileage calculated through trip planners and by checking if all possible costs were accounted for in half the months in that three-year span.

The auditor's review notes that it's impossible to know for sure how much should be reimbursed, because the data wasn't designed to be used for accounting.

Political issue

The use of state vehicles and employees for private uses has become a political issue. Nixon and Montee are Democrats, and Blunt is a Republican.

Last fall, Nixon acknowledged that he had used state vehicles and staff members for political events.

He has defended the use of his official car and staff while on political events by asserting they are necessary for his security and that he is always on duty as attorney general.

On Thursday, Montee released an audit critical of Blunt for using state vehicles and police protection during personal and campaign trips.

Montee's reviews of both Nixon and Blunt have included statements that the state constitution bars officeholders from using state resources for personal or political purposes. Blunt's administration has said a state law allows the governor to have bodyguards from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.