Richie Farmer Donates Furlough Money To Charity. But Donating To Charity Allows Him To Deduct It From His Income Tax!

Farmer donates furlough money to charity
By ROGER ALFORD

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Richie Farmer said Tuesday he didn't intend to seem insensitive to state workers by not participating in unpaid furloughs as agriculture commissioner.

Farmer donated more than $2,000 to charity in an attempt to put what had become a troublesome political issue to rest.

"I am sorry that I did not come to this conclusion sooner," he said in a statement. "It was never my intention to make it seem that I was insensitive to the plight of state employees. I appreciate the service of each and every one of our state employees."

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Farmer said he has given $1,000 to Capitol City Christian Church and $1,071.42 to the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund. That money is the equivalent of five furlough days. Farmer said he will make another donation to charity next month to cover a sixth furlough day.

Farmer said he opted to make charitable donations rather than return the money to the state treasury.

"Initially, I chose not to participate due to my strong disagreement with the overall policy," he said. "After reconsidering, I decided there was a better way to serve the greater good while letting state employees know that it doesn't have to be this way, and that I sympathize with them and will share in their sacrifice."

Farmer said he still disagrees with Gov. Steve Beshear's decision "to balance the state budget on the backs of state employees" by forcing them to take unpaid leave.

"I believe the furloughs to be unnecessary, as the General Assembly on two occasions has provided the governor other means with which to balance the budget, and the governor chose to veto them. My position on the furloughs has not changed, but I have reconsidered my reaction to them."

Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Dan Logsdon said he was pleased to hear that Farmer "had overcome his philosophical objections" to participating in the furloughs.

"We hope this new found fiscal restraint applies to his luxury hotel stays as well," Logsdon said in a statement.

Farmer, the running mate of Republican gubernatorial hopeful David Williams, has faced scrutiny not just on the furlough issue, but also on some of his spending decisions as head of the Department of Agriculture.

Logsdon had called on Farmer to repay the state $1,576 for a four-night stay in a Lexington hotel during the Sweet Sixteen boys' basketball tournament.

And Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobbie Holsclaw called for the state auditor to do a full review of the Department of Agriculture's finances to look for other instances of wasteful spending.