KINDER SECOND IN SENATE TRAVEL EXPENSES

Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau said his $4,500 in travel expenses are the seventh highest in the state because he must travel a six-county district.

"John Dennis -- my predecessor -- told me that if there were 12 Germans making sausage somewhere, then I needed to be there," said the Cape Girardeau Republican. "So I go to as many parish and church suppers as I can."

Kinder's 27th district includes Cape Girardeau, Perry, Madison, Bollinger, Scott and Mississippi counties.

His travel expenses were listed in the St. Louis Post Dispatch this week with 19 other legislators labeled the top 20 legislative travelers. Kinder was ranked second among the senate travel spenders.

An ardent opponent of outcomes-based education, Kinder said he has made several speeches recently to educational organizations.

Those speeches and his attendance at events throughout the district cause mileage to accumulate.

"I assure you that the committee looks at everything under close scrutiny," he said. "They don't reimburse anything they have questions on."

Kinder said the state allows legislators 27 cents per mile for state business in personal vehicles. He said other expenses like room rentals and other expenses may or may not be covered.

"Sometimes I submit things that get kicked back," he said.

The Senate Administration Committee does recommend reimbursement for most room rentals when legislators are on state business. But alcoholic drinks, in-room movies and other on-the-side expenses aren't covered.

"No one's getting rich off this," Kinder said. "I drive a 1987 Jeep Cherokee with 202,000 miles. I travel about 33,000 miles a year."

Travel expenses provided by the House and Senate accounting offices showed Kinder had been reimbursed for $4,544 in travel expenses between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31. Those figures don't include in-state trips during the legislative session, according to the accounting offices.