Arkansas officials accepted free trips across the country and around the world, trekking as far away as Taiwan and Turkey, according to documents filed this week with the secretary of state’s office.
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Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, Secretary of State Mark Martin and departing Lt. Gov. Mark Darr each reported receiving more than $10,000 in trips and gifts in 2013.
Gov. Mike Beebe also reported receiving about $7,741 in trips and gifts from several lobbying organizations and foundations.
The disclosures were made in each constitutional officer’s statement of financial interest, which elected officials and appointees are required to submit for the calendar year. Friday was the deadline for the statements.
The reports include sources of income, businesses or holdings, creditors, past-due amounts owed to the government, gifts, awards and nongovernmental sources of payment.
McDaniel reported receiving a box full of Arkansas Razorback clothing from President Bill Clinton on March 4 that he estimated to be worth $600. McDaniel said in an interview that he found the box on his chair one morning with a note from the former president, stating he thought he might like the items.
McDaniel also reported receiving a “JFK painting” June 15 from Jay Shue, his former head of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and now the Medicaid inspector general. The attorney general said the painting was purchased by Shue at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and given to him as a gift.
McDaniel reported receiving a $12,000 trip to Turkey as part of a delegation from the National Association of Attorneys General, which paid for the trip, from May 31 to June 8. Food, lodging and travel were paid for.
The group also paid for a $13,000 trip so McDaniel could join a delegation to Taiwan Oct. 19-26.
McDaniel reported receiving four trips from the Democratic Attorneys General Association totaling $4,642. The trips were to the group’s winter, spring and fall policy conferences and December holiday party.
The attorney general also reported receiving a trip to attend the Conference of Western Attorneys General initiative Oct. 2-7. The group - which reported the event was held in Kapalua, Hawaii, on its website - covered the $2,759 cost of the trip.
Darr, who submitted his resignation Friday, reported receiving a trip to Taiwan for he and his wife, Kim, which totaled $12,216.
Darr reported that he received $6,502 for the trip from June 1-8, while his wife received $5,714. The trip was paid for by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
Darr also reported a solo trip to the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association conference in Boston from June 30 to July 2. The association paid $1,408 for the trip, according to the report.
Martin reported receiving two overseas trips totaling $11,624 last year.
The Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians covered the $3,300 cost for Martin to attend the “U.S.-Azerbaijan Convention for Diplomatic Relations” May 24-June 5. The convention was held in Azerbaijan, according to a spokesman.
Martin also reported an $8,324 trip to South Korea, paid for by that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Nov. 11-15 trip was reported as a “Diplomatic-Cultural Exchange by Special Invitation.”
Beebe reported receiving four trips during the past year.
The governor received $4,276 for round-trip airfare to Hilton Head, S.C., for the Democratic Governors Association Conference Aug. 1-2. The trip was paid for by the Bell Legal Group, personal-injury attorneys based in Georgetown, S.C.
Beebe’s lodging at the conference - totaling $338 - was paid for by the Democratic Governors Association, and his $300 in golf fees was paid for by Terry Richardson, a South Carolina lawyer.
Beebe reported receiving a $1,240 trip to Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 22 to attend a panel discussion titled “Why U.S. Manufacturing is Important to States.” The trip was paid for by the Arkansas Economic Development Foundation.
Beebe also reported receiving a $945 trip to the Governing’s Leadership Forum inDetroit from April 30-May 1. Governing Magazine covered airfare and lodging.
The governor also received $642 from the Arkansas State University Foundation for round-trip air travel to Mobile, Ala., to watch the GoDaddy Bowl game against Kent State on Jan. 6, 2013. (Arkansas State won.)
Treasurer Charles Robinson, who was appointed by Beebe, Republican Land Commissioner John Thurston and Democratic state Auditor Charlie Daniels reported not accepting any gifts or trips in 2013.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
The leaders of the House and Senate reported receiving more than $23,000 in gifts and trips.
Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, reported receiving a $2,274 trip from the Senate Presidents Forum to attend a conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 10, 2013. The group also paid for a $2,365 trip to Seattle for a conference July 12 and a $1,030 trip for a conference in Madrid on Oct. 9.
Lamoureux also reported a $1,990 trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, for a conference July 7, which was paid for by the National Conference on State Legislators Leaders Forum.
Lamoureux reported a $1,949 trip for a July 21 conference in Sonoma, Calif., which was paid for by the Republican State Legislative Committee. The group also covered the cost of a $2,926 trip to a Sept. 27 conference in Hawaii.
Lamoureux also reported receiving a $4,902 trip to Beijing on Oct. 25, which was paid for by the Chinese Peoples Friendship Association.
The Republican State Legislative Committee covered the $1,137 cost for Lamoureux to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14.
House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, reported receiving a $1,685 trip to the State Legislative Leaders Foundation’s New Speakers Orientation Jan. 24-26, 2013.
The speaker also reported receiving a $1,769 trip paid for by the National Conference of State Legislatures to attend the the group’s Leadership Forum for State Lawmakers on June 9-11.
The Southern Legislative Conference also paid for Carter’s $500 trip July 26-29 for the group’s gathering in Mobile, Ala.
Carter also reported receiving $642 from the Arkansas State University Foundation to attend the GoDaddy Bowl.
SUPREME COURT
Chief Justice Jim Hannah reported $1,361 in reimbursements for lodging and travel to a seminar in San Francisco, titled “The War on the Judiciary, Can Independent Judging Survive,” from July 19-21. The trip was paid for by the Pound Civil Justice Institute.
Justices Jo Hart and Karen Baker also reported trips to the conference, paid for by the institute. Hart received $698, while Baker received $547.
Justice Donald Corbin reported receiving $1,050 from the University of Cincinnati College of Law for judging the final round of the Rendigs Moot Court competition in Cincinnati on March 15-17.
Corbin also received a $1,283 trip paid for by the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence to attend the ninth annual Symposium on Constitutional Law in Chicago on July 19-21.
Justices Paul Danielson, Courtney Hudson Goodson and Cliff Hoofman reported receiving no gifts or trips in 2013.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 02/01/2014