Oct 14 2008
Easley Air is Grounded
Gov. Mike Easley was right to order the cancellation of a planned purchase of a $9 million jet by the state’s Commerce Department.
The governor’s office correctly noted that the jet is not needed. That leaves us with the question: Why was the multimillion dollar jet ordered in the first place?
That’s an easy one. The jet was ordered because the people in charge of the government haven’t had any punishment for prior wasteful spending. The voters keep re-electing them, so they think they can get away with more and more. This time, they went to far. But there will be next time, and a next next time, until the voters in this state finally get wise and throw these clowns out of office.
While it’s laudable that Easley is taking this proactive budget trimming step, we have to question the wisdom of state officials in both the executive and legislative branches going forward with the planned purchase in the first place. The state has already placed a $250,000 deposit on the jet, which Easley is trying to get back.
Being frugal with taxpayer dollars is a good thing. We just wish state officials in Raleigh wouldn’t have to wait on an economic pinch to get in a thrifty mood.
