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Nine legislators go to Hawaii with state funds

September 4, 1997
By: Rebecca Sapakie
State Capital Bureau

The House speaker's chief of staff says Steve Gaw found a way to avoid taxpayer concerns over his recent business trip to Hawaii that was the focus of Thursday's Post-Dispatch. Rebecca Sapakie (Suh-pack-ey) has the story in Jefferson City.

Story: Gaw pays his own way to Hawaii
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC
Nine legislators, five from the St. Louis area, used state funds to attend an annual Women's Legislator's conference in Hawaii.

Gaw also attended the conference, but, unlike the women legislators, used his personal and campaign funds to pay for the trip.

That's the word from Gaw's chief of staff, Sarah Parker:

Actuality: Sarah Parker
RunTime: 11
OutCue: ...out of his own money
Contents: When you're in the public eye you want to be careful to consider how things may be viewed by your constituents. That's why he chose to do this himself.

Meanwhile, the House Travel Committee chairman defended his committee's approval to fund nine other lawmakers to stay at one of the world's top resorts in Hawaii.

Rebecca Sapakie reporting from the Capitol.