Hank Stephenson at the Arizona Capitol Times has another blockbuster exposé on House Speaker David Gowan: The Sierra Vista Republican had to refund more than $12,000 in bogus expenses that he billed the state. Stephenson’s report:

Arizona House Speaker David Gowan last month repaid the state more than $12,000 for mileage reimbursements he claimed for trips that he took in state vehicles and for days he claimed to work but did not.

Gowan repaid the travel reimbursement money after the Arizona Capitol Times published a Jan. 8 article detailing the increase of state fleet vehicle use by top Republican lawmakers and their staff. The speaker declined to comment on the issue.

House Republican caucus spokesperson Stephanie Grisham said after the Capitol Times published its investigation into Gowan and other lawmakers’ use of state fleet vehicles, the speaker instructed House staff to comb through his personal mileage reimbursement claims and cross reference those records with his fleet vehicle use to look for any travel reimbursements.


Read the whole thing here.

The report comes on the heels of Stephenson’s earlier report that Gowan was cruising around Congressional District 1 in a state-issued car at the same time he’s running in the district in a crowded six-way primary. Coincidentally enough, he decided to pay back his ill-gotten gains just days after Stephenson’s report was published.

Gowan has built his reputation on the notion that he’s a small-government conservative who made the “tough choices” to cut K-12 spending and university support, as well as slash programs that provide kids with health insurance, prevent child abuse and help low-income Arizonans afford food. But he’ll now be known as a grifter who helped himself to as much government largesse as he could. He’s taken George Washington Plunkitt’s dictum to heart: “I seen my opportunities and I took ’em.”

This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 2, 2016.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

14 replies on “AZ Cap Times: House Speaker Gowan Had to Refund $12,000 in Bogus Mileage Reimbursements and Phony Per-Diem Claims”

  1. First rule in American politics — you have done nothing wrong until you are caught.

    Second rule in American politics — you were not aware that what you did was illegal because you have never done anything illegal before (unless you’ve already been caught for something else).

    Third rule in America Politics — whatever you did has been exaggerated by the media and/or partisan politics to diminish you in the eyes of your constituents, because everything you do is for them — and for their sake you will continue to stay in office and fight.

  2. If most of us committed fraud to the tune of $12,000, we’d be worried about a court date or pending arrest.

    Arizona voters – why do you keep endorsing this behavior?

  4. The guy’s a crook, but then, most of them are. IF the reps. did a good job and kept their fingers out of the pie and walked away from lobbyists, they might get a raise. They are lucky we are paying them anything.

  5. Only after the “Arizona Capitol Times published a Jan. 8 article detailing the increase of state fleet vehicle use by top Republican lawmakers and their staff” did the Republican Speaker of the Arizona House admit to incorrect personal mileage reimbursement claims. Do you really think the Republicans in CD 1 should reward Speaker Gowan with their nomination to Congress? Most Democrats are holding their breath, saying, YES, YES, YES! $12,000 Bogus Mileage Claims and “phony Per-Diem” payments will equalize dark money campaign funds pouring into GOP campaign coffers. Ok, Democrats a win is a win even against a politically bankrupted candidate.

  6. Did anyone really expect anything different.
    This is a very common practice, because lawmakers as a rule don’t get audited like state agencies.
    Shameful, and should be a good talking point during the next election.,

  7. Susan Hirsch: Are you suggesting that since legislators are poorly paid it’s OK for them to pad their expense accounts?

  8. I don’t get it. Last time I checked this is known as theft. Why isn’t this grifter being prosecuted?

  10. This guy acts like MICH Gov. Snyder, pleads innocent for crimes committed. When will the Republicans become honest and truthful, instead of the LIES they continue to tell the people. When Republicans will you stop your criminal acts. When will the voters wake up to what the Republicans stand for?

  11. It is so ridiclous about the pay of Arizona legislators. So many berkenstock tye dyed and redneck blue collar types. Have said to me time time after time why raise their pay they dont do anything anyway. So I guess stupid is as stupid does quoting Forest Gump. If you dont want anything done, dont pay for anything to be done and guess what nothing will be done. So if we really need something to be done lets start a regulatory agency and they can be immune from any oversight. We will outsource all quality of life agencies to contract workers and beat down the contract costs. First cost is wages share holders and investors collect their excise fees first then is is to nego is medical costs.

  12. Why vote for kids’ health or education when you can reserve some public money just for yourself? Let’s see if the constituent voters in this guy’s government-hating district keep voting him in – or up. Refreshing that good journalism is still available.

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