As she travels around New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul has chosen to fly instead of drive, leaving the expenses to taxpayers.
According to a new report from the New York Post, Hochul has maintained an expensive flying habit that has cost the public more than $250,000 since she took office last year.
In April, when Hochul was ready to head home after a campaign rally on Long Island, she “beckoned a Beechcraft King Air 200 from Albany to fly her 400 miles west to Buffalo”.
Flights records were obtained by The Post through the Freedom of Information Law, showing that state police added 60 more flights since April to the near 200 they have already flown since August.
“Kathy Hochul’s extravagant flight plans, funded entirely by taxpayers, appear to be even more ridiculous as additional information becomes public,” said Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay.
Many of Hochul’s travels include airplanes or helicopters used to travel short distances.
GOP state Chair Nick Langworthy, who has previously called for an investigation into Hochul’s flights, said “Corrupt Kathy is flying around like a billionaire, stuffing her campaign coffers with pay-to-play donations”.
State police maintain three airplanes and two helicopters on behalf of Hochul, reported the Post.
In July, Hochul defended her use of the planes after she was repeatedly criticized. “We are using the state plane to allow me to connect with constituents, voters all across the state, as well as citizens,” she said.
“So, our objective is to be a different kind of governor – one that is not locked into Albany or New York City, but there is an entire state out there,” Hochul told reporters.
Hochul is not the first NY Governor to be scrutinized over her travel habits. Former Governors Andrew Cuomo, George Pataki, and Mario Cuomo all faced criticism for their use of state aircraft.