Keating's travel has increased in final year in office

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY _ Amid budget shortfalls, Gov. Frank Keating has been out of the office more in his final year than in previous years. <br><br>Records of the governor's travel show he has been out

Sunday, September 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY _ Amid budget shortfalls, Gov. Frank Keating has been out of the office more in his final year than in previous years.

Records of the governor's travel show he has been out of the state for 80 days this year, the Tulsa World reported in Sunday's editions.

That compares to 70 days out of state during 2001. During fiscal 2001 and 2002, Keating traveled out of state a total of 162 days, an average of 81 days.

For the first three months of the current fiscal year that began July 1, he has been absent from the state a total of 40 days, compared to 18 days for the same period last year.

His final year in office has been busy. Keating has taken a 13-day trip to Europe and a 14-day trip the Far East.

The European junket was to Portugal and England and the Asian trip included stops in Vietnam and China.

Some of Keating's travel has included side trips to the to the Great Wall in China, the Taj Mahal, Jade Pagoda, and a theater in London's West End.

``When the Legislature is not in session he travels for economic development purposes and to represent Oklahoma at various nonprofit and speaking engagements,'' Keating Communications Coordinator Dan Mahoney said.

``Many of these trips were up-and-back on the same day or on weekends.''

But much of the governor's travel hasn't always involved economic development or nonprofit events. A considerable amount has been political, personal and recreational.

Keating made one trip to Washington for a meeting of the Roman Catholic commission he chairs and another to Dallas for a meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference.

He also made promotional trips to New York City and California for his children's book on Will Rogers. Mahoney pointed out the California promotional trip was just prior to Keating's departure for Asia and also noted that profits will be donated to charity.

Keating has also traveled to Washington and Chicago on state aircraft for personal meetings, according to the governor's log.

Mahoney confirmed it was to discuss an insurance industry job in Washington, which Keating subsequently has taken.

Mahoney defended Keating's travel this year, saying it has been consistent with previous years - 70 to 80 days annually.

Lawmakers say the governor's travel hasn't disrupted state business, although Oklahoma is suffering from serious budget shortfalls.

State Auditor and Inspector Clifton Scott serves with Keating on the School Land Commission and said he doesn't recall the governor attending recent meetings.

``Just between you, me and the gate post, he was bragging one day about his new job in Washington and I told him, if he wants to leave early, I'll help him load the U-Haul-It,'' Scott said.