Putting the best face on another major embarrassment, Gov. John G.
Rowland last week called his agreement to pay $6,015.17 for disallowed credit
card charges "a fair and reasonable settlement" with the state
Elections Enforcement Commission.
Mr. Rowland's constituents couldn't be blamed, however, for thinking that this
latest settlement with a state watchdog agency is another piece of disturbing
evidence that the three-term governor is, at best, ethically obtuse.
Mr. Rowland and the state Republican Party agreed to make payments to the
general fund to settle charges of faulty record-keeping and reimbursement
practices in connection with the use of party-issued American Express credit
cards. The cards are to be used only for party-building purposes or other
party-related expenses. The commission said, however, that some of the expenses
were personal. The state party will pay $1,500. Under the agreement, party
officials basically said they had done nothing wrong - and will never do it
again.
Among Mr. Rowland's credit card charges termed improper by the election
enforcement commission were expenses for kayaking in Idaho, golf in a San Diego
suburb, restaurant meals in Fort Lauderdale and Litchfield County and hotel
stays in Florida, Ohio, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Some of the hotel stays
were for high school or college reunions, a commission report concluded. Mr.
Rowland disagreed with the commission's interpretation of the law, arguing that
all the expenses were related to political events and thus to party-building
activity. He signed the agreement anyway.
The settlement should be a wake-up call for the state Republican Party to
tighten its use of credit cards. Contributors don't give money so it can be
frittered away on personal expenses rung up by party officials and leaders.
The settlement signed by Mr. Rowland gives him another black eye. In April
1997, he paid a $2,000 fine for accepting concert tickets, the first ethics
fine levied against a sitting Connecticut governor. A month later, Rowland
staff and family members returned surplus military items taken from a state
warehouse. Earlier this summer, the governor agreed to pay about $9,000 to
settle a State Ethics Commission investigation into Mr. Rowland's discounted
vacation stays at homes belonging to people who do business with the state.
The governor's fondness for freebies betrays an arrogance and sense of
entitlement that is dangerous in a public official.
And then there are the activities of some of his appointees and friends who have
pleaded guilty to crimes, are awaiting trial or are under investigation. It is
not a record to be proud of.