The governor’s office confirmed this afternoon it will reimburse the public for the helicopter ride to see his son play in a high school baseball game.
“Though the Superintendent of the State Police noted yesterday the travel does not cost taxpayers additional dollars, the Governor understands the sensitivity about this kind of thing and believes he owes it to the public to ensure that this is not a distraction. As such, the Governor is reimbursing for the last two trips dated 5/27 and 5/31 in the amounts of $919.20 and $1232.30, respectively,” his office said in a release.
Also the Office issued a list of instances in which State Police helicopters were used for travel. “The total number attributable to the Governor is 33.” the Office said in its release. “Another flight was by the Lieutenant Governor, and one other was for transporting support staff for consecutive press conferences in the Meadowlands and Atlantic City to announce the recommendations of the Hanson Commission. The spreadsheet lists the date and purpose of use.”
Included in the governor’s helicopter trips are two for “early morning media, which presumably were trips to New York City for the morning talk show circuit.
The reimbursement for two flights to his son’s baseball games was first reported by the Associated Press.