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NBC can't pay for gov's travel, ethics panel says
Posted: Nov 7, 2011 5:45 PM by Matt Stafford
DENVER (AP) - Colorado's governor can't accept about $1,000 from NBC News to cover his travel expenses to New York to appear on a panel about education.
Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission announced the ruling Monday after the Democratic governor's office sought the opinion.
According to the request, NBC News offered to pay travel expenses for Gov. John Hickenlooper and a staff member. Hickenlooper appeared on the Sept. 26 panel with Brian Williams with nine other governors.
The three-member ethics commission said that because NBC News is a for-profit company, the governor's office may not accept $1,075 reimbursement. Public officials are allowed to accept travel funds to appear on panels only if the panels are organized by nonprofits or other governments.
The travel was paid for out of a discretionary fund in the Governor's Office budget.
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