Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Rep. Perry cleared of any misuse of state funds; Sen. Guthrie found to have improperly claimed one night’s lodging

The Idaho Legislative Services Office has completed its investigation into travel reimbursements claimed by two lawmakers, Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, and Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa, over the past three years, after allegations by a blogger that the two might have misused state funds in the course of an affair; Perry was cleared of any improper use of funds, but Guthrie was found to have been improperly reimbursed for one night’s lodging in Boise.

The investigation was requested by Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill and House Speaker Scott Bedke. State auditors found that one of Guthrie’s 35 travel reimbursements was unfounded, in the amount of $121.14. Guthrie made a four-day trip to Boise for a legislative committee meeting, which occurred all day on the second day of the trip, auditors found. “But we were unable to verify that there was any other state business purpose for the final night claimed on the travel voucher. This resulted in a potential over-reimbursement of up to $121.14.”

The blogger's claims were based on comments from Guthrie's ex-wife after the two divorced.

The full report is online here.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

Follow Betsy online: