Maybe you’ve heard this one before: No wonder Evan Bayh can’t remember his Indiana address.
An earlier report from the AP exposed Bayh for not staying in his Indianapolis condo a single time during 2010, his last year in office. Now Bayh has been busted again.
A new Politico story reveals that Bayh broke Senate ethics rules and spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on hotel stays in Indianapolis in 2009. He even put himself up for the August Senate recess at the Indianapolis downtown Marriott – ten miles from his condo.
“Former Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh used taxpayer money to stay at hotels in Indianapolis for 14 nights in 2009 despite owning a condominium there, charging more than $2,000 in travel and lodging expenses to his official account, according to his internal schedule and Senate disbursement records.”
…
“The Senate rulebook prohibits spending official funds within 35 miles of a senator’s in-state residence during the August recess. From Aug. 9-14, 2009, Bayh claimed $737 in per diem expenses during nights he stayed in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, located about 10 miles from his condo, his internal schedule shows. Bayh will repay that money, his campaign said.
“There are also questions about the propriety of the remaining reimbursements of $1,321 in official charges.
“In addition to the five nights in August 2009, Bayh stayed in hotels in Indianapolis an additional nine nights in 2009, according to his internal schedule. Yet on eight of those dates in question, covering February to late October, the Senate was not in session. Bayh also filed per diems in Indiana on Jan. 11, 2009, when the Senate was in session and his schedule shows he stayed at an Indianapolis Westin.” (Burgess Everett, “Bayh Used Taxpayer Cash For Indianapolis Hotel Stays,” Politico, 11/3/16)
If you need a reminder on how wildly out of touch Evan Bayh is, here’s one: He was just busted for using taxpayer dollars to stay at swanky hotels in a city where he owns a home – and he’s splitting hairs over how much of that money he should have to pay back:
“Bayh’s campaign argues those stays were permissible and won’t return the money.
“‘Per diems are allowed to be taken in a senator’s home state in connection with official activity at any time except the August recess and adjournment sine die at the end of each calendar year or Congress,’ said Marc Elias, counsel to the campaign.
“Senate rules say official funds cannot be used within 35 miles outside of a senator’s ‘duty station.’ That’s defined as a member’s home in Washington during a Senate session and his or her in-state residence when the Senate is out of session for August recess and is adjourned, or at the end of the year or Congress.” (Burgess Everett, “Bayh Used Taxpayer Cash For Indianapolis Hotel Stays,” Politico, 11/3/16)
Once again, Evan Bayh was using taxpayer money to enrich himself – and denies wrongdoing even after he got caught.
Hard to believe his campaign has collapsed.