Politics

Lugar’s trips back to Indiana cost taxpayers nearly $50,000

Will Rahn Senior Editor
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When Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar visits the Hoosier State, he often does it on the taxpayers’ dime.

The Daily Caller previously reported that Lugar, currently the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, has not owned a home in Indiana for over 30 years. However, Lugar is still registered to vote at 3200 Highwoods Court in Indianapolis, a property he sold in 1977.

Lugar, who now lives in Virginia, mostly spends his time in hotels during trips back to Indiana. And these trips, Fox News reports in a story citing Indiana Democratic Party research, have cost taxpayers nearly $50,000 in travel expenses.

The Indiana Democrats also said that Lugar has spent just 325 days in Indiana between 1990 and 2011, which an aide to the senator strongly denied.

“The suggestion is that Lugar’s time in the state has been limited to less than a year over the course of two-plus decades,” spokesman David Willkie said. “The Lugar campaign says that suggestion is completely false. [Senator Lugar] spends a quarter of the year, every year in the state.”

Willkie also said Lugar spent 89 days in Indiana since February 2011, and told TheDC that six additional planned days in the state were cancelled due to floor votes in the Senate. (RELATED: Richard Lugar doesn’t live here anymore)

Moreover, according to Willkie, Lugar has missed less than two percent of floor votes and has returned $5.4 million from his Senate office budget over the course of his six terms in office.

“Senator Lugar has returned money from his official budget every year since being elected to the U.S. Senate,” Willkie told TheDC.

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