Transparency sought involving cost of Duncan-Miller trip

Geoff Duncan and Butch Miller left office as lieutenant governor and Senate president pro tem, respectively, at the beginning of this year. Now they’re back in the spotlight after a call for an investigation into a study committee they led on a trip to Europe.

Their successors, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy, are seeking a probe into how taxpayers ended up with the bill for the 14-member delegation’s excursion to Germany and the United Kingdom.

The group traveled Nov. 12-19 to the German cities of Munich and Stuttgart and then London as part of a Senate Study Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. A report compiled by Duncan’s office and signed by Miller said the visit included meetings with government and business officials, tours of company facilities, and receptions.

The Georgia Senate passed legislation creating the committee at the end of the 2022 session. Miller served as its chair.

There is no way for taxpayers to know how much the trip cost unless the General Assembly agrees to release the information.

Legislative lawyers rejected requests from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to disclose how much state money was spent on the trip, citing the exemption the General Assembly gave itself from complying with the Open Records Act that other government agencies must follow.

Jones and Kennedy said in a joint statement that an AJC article about the delegation’s journeys — which involved a review of 1,300 pages of emails received through an Open Records Act request from the Department of Economic Development — “raises serious concerns about the use and purpose of Senate administrative funds in paying for travel expenses associated with this study committee.”

They added: “We believe that transparency and ensuring that any travel paid using taxpayer dollars should have a direct connection to the legislature or bringing businesses and work into Georgia. We are taking this issue very seriously and our offices will investigate this process and ensure the most transparency for hardworking Georgians.”

Late in the 2022 session, the Senate added $80,000 to the lieutenant governor’s office budget and $686,000 to the Georgia Senate budget, calling it an increase “for legislative operations,” according to Senate budget tracking sheets. No further explanation was provided.

Democrats have joined in seeking greater transparency about the trip. That includes urging by state Sen. Emanuel Jones of Ellenwood, who brings an unusual perspective to the matter.

He was part of the delegation.