By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee says elected officials cannot use state-owned vehicles for political or personal trips, even if they reimburse the state for such usage.
The statement comes from an audit of Lt. Governor Peter Kinder's office. Kinder had been using a state-owned pickup for personal and political trips, but he also reimbursed the state for those trips.
Montee says the General Assembly needs to address the issue next year.
"I think it's pretty clear here that the law says you don't use it...I think it has to go back to the General Assembly if they want to have a change in the law," Montee said.
The State Auditor's ruling also applies to Attorney General Jay Nixon, whose gubernatorial campaign reimbursed the state for 47-thousand dollars for his use of a state vehicle.
Barry Bennett, a spokesman for the Lt. Governor, says Kinder based his actions on an interpretation of the law by the Office of Administration.
"He ended any non-official use of the vehicle that is in this office, or for the use of this office, back in July of this year, before any of this ever hit," Bennett said.
Meanwhile, the Missouri Republican Party blasted Montee for auditing the Lt. Governor while not examining Attorney General Jay Nixon's state vehicle use.
But Bennett says the Lt. Governor doesn't believe Montee intentionally targeted his boss and says he's pleased with the overall results of the audit.