Perdue paying more for plane use for politics

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Gov. Bev Perdue’s campaign has been paying more recently for flights on North Carolina state aircraft when she’s attended political events as she seeks re-election this year.

Perdue’s committee says its upcoming campaign finance report will show it reimbursed the state almost $49,000 for air travel 11 times since June.

Such reimbursements are common. State budget guidelines let elected officials use state planes or helicopters to attend political functions. The official’s campaign committee is charged the hourly operating cost of the plane. State funds can pay only up to half of flight expenses when the trip includes government and political activity.

Previous campaign finance reports show Perdue’s committee paid nearly $15,000 to the state for travel during her first 2½ years in office.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)