JEFFERSON CITY — Today (2-13) the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee held a hearing regarding the events surrounding the purchase of a new Beechcraft King Air 250 airplane by the Missouri Highway Patrol in December of 2012.  The aircraft carried a price tag of approximately $5.6 million.  Normally a purchase of this amount would go through the legislative appropriations process to be fully vetted.  In this case it was paid for from a fund set up for the Highway Patrol to purchase automobiles, boats, and airplanes.

Ever since the purchase became public, speculation and rumors persisted that Colonel Replogle of the Highway Patrol had been asked to purchase the plane for use by elected officials.  All parties denied this and Replogle has steadfastly maintained that he alone was responsible for the decision to make the purchase.

As chairman of the committee I thought it was important there be a hearing into the transparency and accountability of the purchase.  Colonel Replogle and the Commissioner of the Office of Administration, Doug Nelson, willingly appeared in front of the committee and presented their version of the events of the purchase.  In addition, both men answered questions from committee members. 

Colonel maintained he alone was responsible for the decision to purchase the airplane and defended it as a long-term investment for the state.  It is not uncommon for state officials to use air travel to get around Missouri, but I believe it must be accomplished in the most cost effective method possible.  Questions and comments from other committee members also reflected this line of thinking.

We should always be aware that money the state is spending comes from the pockets of its citizens.  Hopefully this message was conveyed at the hearing today and will affect similar decisions in the

future.

- State Sen. Mike Parson, District 28