Commuting commissioner costs taxpayers

Gov. Bill Richardson appointed state gaming official to a $100,000 job in Albuquerque, but as investigative reporter Larry Barker discovered, the commissioner instead opted for a pricey office in Ruidoso while racking up thousands in travel expenses.

[@danflores2346]

Great report-puts a spotlight on poor management & supervision.

[@jasoncrandall73]

A lot of everyday people have to commute 2 hours or more a day for work without any reimbursement so what made him think he was someone more important?

[@jasoncrandall73]

I wasn't talking about drunk driving funds. What are you talking about? And what are drunk driving funds?

[@DJPLAST2]

The company I used to work for (private sector) slowed the excessive spending down by having the employee pay all expenses, then submit reimbursement forms, along with receipts. If upon review the expenses were excessive, not legitimate, no receipts, then they were denied, payed for already by the employee. Next trip caused the spending to be a little more frugal, lessons learned and not easily forgotten.

[@peternorthrup6274]

Who got fired? No one.

[@skeeterjackson2633]

He resigned after this news story and Attorney Marc Prelo Jr. was appointed to the Gaming Control Board .

[@fatheroffab]

Sounds like the rules need to change to say that all of your business expenses COME OUT of your annual salary. You make $100,000 a year?! You can more than afford your own travel and luxuries!!

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

Hahaha. $100,000 isn’t that much money. 😂🤣. Shit. My wife makes 104,000$ and we can’t afford travel after paying bills etc. and after tax $9,000 a month becomes $6,500 a month. I make $3500 after taxes. We have house payment, school loans, gas , electric, phone , insurance, groceries, car payments , boat payment etc. our bills come out to over 6000$ a month. We ain’t rich dude. And $100,000 a year isn’t rich. It’s middle class at best.

[@fatheroffab]

@@MatanuskaHIGH you have poor money management. The average American two-person household brings home approx. $50,000 a year. You seem to have a lot of luxury items in your expense column that the majority of this country does not have.

[@ronrichardson3362]

New Mexico is the new , New Jersey ! Corruption is the New way of life.

[@Y0uKnowMyName]

Man, that combover must keep his scalp warm.

[@robertpeters2741]

Another sleazy politician. What's new?

[@zachhi89]

Some people just dgaf about tax payers’ money, they got no respect for the fact that people pay their taxes expecting to get reasonable returns from them. We need to monitor government agencies and find these disrespectful politicians and stop them before they waste our hard earned cash on extravagant “expenses”.

[@Mitch-zr4wb]

This is why we should never let local media die

[@SoSoPrettyMS21]

It’s the audacity for me!

[@Gunbuster277]

What’s his political affiliation?🤔

[@Skindog67]

Crooks

[@donkeytime4263]

This is the rule not exception

[@savitar97]

What's up with Barker's moustache?

[@robertpeters2741]

That's the Hitler look or Grouch Marx look.

[@crscts]

Be judicious, be frugal, blah, blah. Why, if no one is looking or cares.

[@lynnleigha580]

High priced mooches

[@bdidbwvolume2.230]

Shit like this is why I hate when people say we can't afford to house the homeless, feed the hungry, treat the sick. We have more than enough money and resources to do it. THIS is where our money goes.

[@deanguando1335]

I don't know about this one. On the surface its outrageous. But he is not hiding, lying, and is totally open. Of course no one will back him even though everyone probably knew. Is there someone better out there who can do the job? Maybe. 100K a year is not a lot of money except if your not making that much. He is a state employee - not town or county. He lives in the state. How much does a CEO of a company make? Now it is their job to rip off the public with no accountability. I'm not for or against this man. Just putting a few things on the table.

[@alongtheway1472]

I wouldn't wanna move either. I don't blame him.

[@peternorthrup6274]

Your my guy Don.

[@michaeltaylor7025]

Bet their still paying funds from other slush funds.

[@danhotea6302]

if you cut me doing something illegal show me and then will talk until then to bad that was his answer

[@brettconv83]

Why can’t this piece of shit eat at Burger King like all the rest of us civilians our tyrannical government rapes.

[@jackwilbur9419]

SSS. Some. Shady. Shit

[@crossroadschoices1077]

How can I get this job? I wanna be a lazy piece of crap human being like this guy

[@crscts]

I'm sure he's a political donor to the governor.

[@lynnleigha580]

Nowadays he can be wherever and we shouldn't have to pay squat because most meetings are online now

[@hughgordon6435]

Oh, ok, so the public will pay, as long as the public don't get told the truth?? Why does this stink? Ohhh, but then again it dont stink , because we don't have to be accountable to the public??

[@crscts]

With all the graft he's getting he should be able to afford all his expenses.

[@jerryransbarger8927]

This is what politician do! And he won't lose his job or payback taxpayers

[@scottwaters3959]

What ironic is this whole fiasco can be solved in 2023 with Zoom.

[@TaterNoggin]

I have watched tons of these. I'm convinced everyone in ABQ is a crook

[@P602-d2x]

Sounds like Larry's jelly

[@julesdussault159]

They will have so many legalize criminal I wonder why their shit don’t stink like anybody else’s disco should be in jail for lifetime how can they get away with it bad management

[@2ingrams]

What a con

[@mrnobody8540]

He a lier

[@dannyshipley7590]

Go after them... Larry...put em on the spot... They act like there spec..

[@gromadelphia9667]

100,000 isn’t enough to pay your own way