Press Releases
Dems Call for "Plane Truth" Legislation
MONTGOMERY - Following revelations that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management failed to promptly respond to media requests for flight records on its state plane, today State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham called on Gov. Riley and the state legislature to pass a flight disclosure law – “Plane Truth” legislation – to deal with the problem.
On Thursday, August 23, The Birmingham News reported that after requesting agency flight records, ADEM has yet to provide flight records from a period of time that included a flight by the agency’s airplane to Tunica, Mississippi. According to the Tunica Airport, ADEM’s $2.4 million turboprop flew into Tunica Airport on August 30, 2006, and left August 31. According to the article, ADEM spokesman Scott Hughes said ADEM Director Trey Glenn had a “meeting-conference” in Tunica, a city known for its gambling casinos.
On August 23, Gov. Riley reimbursed the state $760.75 for taking the ADEM plane to a Republican political fundraiser in Birmingham on April 2. On August 15, The Birmingham News reported the flight, which was not disclosed by Riley despite his 2003 pledge to publicly disclose such flights on his internet website. State law allows public officials to travel to political events in state-owned vehicles or aircraft, but the law requires that the state be reimbursed within 45 days of the event. Riley’s repayment missed the legal deadline by 98 days.
“The people of Alabama deserve to know who is flying on their aircraft, where they are going, and the purpose of the trips,” Turnham said. “But the recent shortcomings tell me that Governor Riley’s promises of full disclosure and transparent government are far from being fulfilled. A ‘Plane Truth’ law should be passed that would require, for all state aircraft, the prompt posting on the state’s website of all flights, passengers, destinations, and purposes of the trips. And there should be penalties for failing to promptly reimburse the state for personal or political travel.”
If Gov. Riley calls a special session on ethics reform later this year, Turnham said “Plane Truth” legislation should be part of the agenda. “Because the people of Alabama own the state’s planes, the people deserve to know who is on them, and where and why they are traveling. It’s going to take more than promises of public disclosure – ‘Plane Truth’ needs to be required by state law as part of ethics reform.”
###
