It's a drive of about 152 miles from Ohio Statehouse to Wells Academy in Steubenville, where Gov. John Kasich is to deliver his State of the State address at 1 p.m. today.
That's about two and a half hours of driving one way, depending on traffic, meaning state officials in Columbus who plan to attend the speech might want to grab a bite on the way.
An Associated Press report states some legislators, unable to use tax dollars to pay for the food and gas, expect to use campaign funds to pay their travel expenses. State law allows elected officials to dip into a campaign treasury to cover meals and mileage related to public duties.
Without a doubt, attending the governor's annual address is a public duty. But it doesn't seem like a good use of campaign cash to pay for the trip to Steubenville.
Perhaps state lawmakers could do what other professionals in Ohio earning $60,500 to $94,000 a year would do: Use the expense as a tax write-off.
Better yet, do what other, less well-to-do Ohioans might do: Carpool and pack a lunch.
