Did Texas Sen. Troy Fraser improperly pocket Per Diem and mileage payments?
Senator Troy Fraser was first elected to the Texas Senate in 1996 and represents areas that include Abilene and Fort Hood. According to his website, Fraser appears to be a multi-millionaire in that he is the founder and former CEO of Pal-Ex, Inc., one of the nation’s largest manufacturers and recyclers of wooden pallets.
As you’ll discover from the facts below, it appears that Senator Troy Fraser owes his campaign at least $198,000 for lodging and aircraft mileage payments he pocketed over the years despite the fact that all of these costs were paid for by his campaign.
From 2000 through June 2010, Fraser received over $19,000 from the State as reimbursement for in-state aircraft mileage. During the same period of time his campaign paid over $650,000 for the costs to operate said aircraft as set forth in text box 1 below.
Campaign payments for Pilot Lessons = $11,180.38
As you’ll see below, Fraser’s campaign paid over $11,000 for “pilot training” over the course of several years. The entries below do not disclose who the “trainee” was; however, I suspect it was Fraser. Therefore, this expenditure would appear to be illegal in that it is of a personal nature, meaning it has absolutely nothing to do with Fraser’s official state duties. Moreover, how much pilot training does one person need?
Simuflite International,
|
$ 3,110.38
|
6/06/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Dallas
|
Simuflite Training International,
|
$ 2,350.00
|
2/23/2001
|
Pilot Flight Training
|
Dallas
|
Simuflite International,
|
$ 2,820.00
|
12/16/2002
|
Training
|
Dallas
|
Simuflite International,
|
$ 2,900.00
|
12/03/2004
|
Travel Expense
|
Dallas
|
Campaign payments for maps = $13,883
Over the period of nine (9) consecutive years, Fraser’s campaign paid for maps from Jepperson as shown below. I’m unaware that the topography in Texas changes every year.
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,517.00
|
9/26/2007
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,681.00
|
10/06/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,593.00
|
10/03/2008
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,817.00
|
9/29/2006
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,288.00
|
9/29/2004
|
Travel Expense
|
Edgewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,112.00
|
11/14/2001
|
Maps
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,226.00
|
9/23/2003
|
Travel Expense
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,226.00
|
11/18/2002
|
Maps
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,044.00
|
10/20/2000
|
Flight Maps
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,379.00
|
10/10/2005
|
Travel Expense
|
Edgewood
|
Text Box 1 – Airplane mileage data
Year
|
State
Mileage
|
Airplane Costs
Paid by Campaign
|
Owed to
Campaign
|
2010
|
$2,798
|
$74,010
|
$2,798
|
2009
|
$6,832
|
$120,111
|
$6,832
|
2008
|
$6,689
|
$79,233
|
$6,689
|
2007
|
$2,798
|
$60,773
|
$2,798
|
2006
|
Unknown
|
$65,157
|
Unknown
|
2005
|
Unknown
|
$64,110
|
Unknown
|
2004
|
Unknown
|
$58,050
|
Unknown
|
2003
|
Unknown
|
$42,436
|
Unknown
|
2002
|
Unknown
|
$38,251
|
Unknown
|
2001
|
Unknown
|
$37,262
|
Unknown
|
2000
|
Unknown
|
$19,774
|
Unknown
|
|
$17,348
|
$659,167
|
$19,117
|
At the end of this article, you’ll see a total breakdown of every payment made by Fraser’s campaign for the Airplane costs detailed in Text Box 1 above.
Fraser pocketing Per Diem payments paid by State
Text Box 2 below sets forth the amounts paid by Fraser’s campaign for lodging and meals costs from 2000 through June 2010. The Misc. column includes all utilities plus meal costs paid by Fraser’s campaign. The Per Diem column denotes Per Diem payments made by the State to Fraser, and the Amt. Column sets forth the amounts that Fraser owes to his campaign.
Text Box 2 – Lodging/Meal Costs and Per Diem Payments
Year
|
Lodging
|
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$ 8,595
|
$2,421
|
$11,016
|
None
|
$10,080
|
$10,080
|
2009
|
$35,527
|
$6,243
|
$41,170
|
140
|
$37,929
|
$37,929
|
2008
|
$27,730
|
$5,449
|
$32,779
|
None
|
$16,819
|
$16,819
|
2007
|
$11,881
|
$10,465
|
$22,346
|
140
|
$21,400
|
$21,400
|
2006
|
$27,556
|
$8,159
|
$35,715
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
2005
|
$18,190
|
$7,006
|
$25,196
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$25,196
|
2004
|
$ 6,019
|
$5,736
|
$11,755
|
30/60
|
$ 7,680
|
$ 7,680
|
2003
|
$ 8,191
|
$8,217
|
$15,408
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$15,408
|
2002
|
$ 3,342
|
$5,626
|
$ 8,968
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
2001
|
$11,752
|
$3,173
|
$14,925
|
140
|
Unknown
|
$14,925
|
2000
|
$ 7,464
|
$6,630
|
$14,094
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
$166,247
|
$69,125
|
$233,375
|
|
$140,578
|
$149,437
|
Total Living and Travel Costs for Fraser – ca. 2000 – June 2010
Text Box 3 below sets forth the amounts paid by Fraser’s campaign over the years to pay for his living, airplane and costs to provide him with a Lexus and/or BMW.
Text Box 3 – Total Living/Travel Costs
Year
|
Lodging
Costs
|
Plane
Costs
|
Airfare
|
Session
|
Car Lease
Rentals
|
Totals
|
2010
|
$11,016
|
$74,010
|
$ 3,027
|
None
|
$ 7,877
|
$ 95,930
|
2009
|
$41,170
|
$123,121
|
$ 6,717
|
140
|
$12,574
|
$180,572
|
2008
|
$32,779
|
$79,242
|
$ 4,042
|
None
|
$14,160
|
$123,402
|
2007
|
$22,346
|
$60,773
|
$ 1,304
|
140
|
$13,478
|
$ 97,901
|
2006
|
$35,717
|
$65,157
|
$11,807
|
None
|
$15,642
|
$128,323
|
2005
|
$25,196
|
$64,146
|
$12,270
|
200
|
$12,506
|
$114,082
|
2004
|
$11,755
|
$58,245
|
$ 3,531
|
30/60
|
$17,767
|
$ 91,103
|
2003
|
$15,408
|
$42,436
|
$ 1,107
|
230
|
$ 9,452
|
$ 68,403
|
2002
|
$ 8,968
|
$41,071
|
$4,014
|
None
|
$ 7,095
|
$ 58,328
|
2001
|
$14,925
|
$39,612
|
$2,328
|
140
|
$ 8,311
|
$ 62,826
|
2000
|
$14,094
|
$19,774
|
$9,926
|
None
|
$ 7,450
|
$ 51,244
|
|
$233,375
|
$667,587
|
$60,073
|
|
$126,312
|
$1,087,347
|
Austin Jet Costs = $108,359.60
Austin Jet,
|
$ 10,650.00
|
9/26/2000
|
Maintenance/Repair
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 14,105.00
|
12/31/2001
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 20,885.00
|
12/30/2002
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 6,100.00
|
7/12/2001
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 8,080.00
|
6/30/2000
|
Aircraft Fuel
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 6,100.00
|
6/20/2001
|
Airplane Expenses
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 16,140.00
|
6/30/2002
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 9,845.00
|
8/30/2001
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Austin Jet,
|
$ 16,454.60
|
1/13/2003
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Abilene Aero Costs = $306,686.12
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 23,142.00
|
7/30/2006
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 35,220.00
|
12/15/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 14,642.00
|
1/31/2005
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 18,737.25
|
2/15/2004
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 26,444.00
|
1/13/2007
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 32,110.00
|
6/26/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 8,764.54
|
7/10/2003
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 26,400.00
|
12/11/2008
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 41,740.00
|
6/15/2010
|
Maintenances
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 13,252.00
|
7/15/2004
|
Travel
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 14,484.88
|
10/01/2005
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 22,561.45
|
1/24/2006
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 11,788.00
|
7/21/2007
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Abilene Aero,
|
$ 17,400.00
|
1/07/2008
|
Travel Expense
|
Abilene
|
Horseshoe Bay Aviation Costs = $99,010.40
Horseshoe Bay Aviation,
|
$ 24,600.00
|
6/26/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Horseshoe Bay Aviation,
|
$ 11,400.00
|
1/07/2008
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Horseshoe Bay Aviation,
|
$ 4,430.40
|
1/27/2003
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Horseshoe Bay Aviation,
|
$ 26,400.00
|
12/15/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Horseshoe Bay Aviation,
|
$ 32,270.00
|
6/15/2010
|
Maintenance
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
HSB Airport Costs = $131,073.66
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 15,212.00
|
1/13/2007
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 4,508.55
|
1/24/2006
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 13,128.00
|
7/30/2006
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 9,840.00
|
7/15/2004
|
Travel
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 5,812.00
|
7/21/2007
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 22,440.00
|
12/11/2008
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 6,831.12
|
10/01/2005
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 26,808.78
|
1/31/2005
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Airport,
|
$ 14,932.75
|
2/15/2004
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Hsb Aviation,
|
$ 11,560.46
|
7/10/2003
|
Travel Expense
|
Horseshoe Bay
|
Costs of Maps = $13,883.00
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,517.00
|
9/26/2007
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,681.00
|
10/06/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,593.00
|
10/03/2008
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jepperson,
|
$ 1,817.00
|
9/29/2006
|
Travel Expense
|
Scottsdale
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,288.00
|
9/29/2004
|
Travel Expense
|
Edgewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,112.00
|
11/14/2001
|
Maps
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,226.00
|
9/23/2003
|
Travel Expense
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,226.00
|
11/18/2002
|
Maps
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,044.00
|
10/20/2000
|
Flight Maps
|
Englewood
|
Jeppesen Sanderson,
|
$ 1,379.00
|
10/10/2005
|
Travel Expense
|
Edgewood
|
Pilot Training Costs = $11,180.38
Simuflite International,
|
$ 3,110.38
|
6/06/2009
|
Travel Expense
|
Simuflite Training International,
|
$ 2,350.00
|
2/23/2001
|
Pilot Flight Training
|
Simuflite International,
|
$ 2,820.00
|
12/16/2002
|
Training
|
Simuflite International,
|
$ 2,900.00
|
12/03/2004
|
Travel Expense
|
|