(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) An inspector general is criticizing travel expenses racked up by employees at the state-created Citizens Property Insurance.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered his inspector general to review travel expenses at the insurer following a news report this past summer that detailed top officials staying at luxury hotels and eating at expensive restaurants.
The review says that while most travel expenses met Citizens written guidelines they are excessive by state standards. Inspector General Melinda Miguel recommends Citizens be required to follow the same laws that state employees follow.
Scott in a statement agrees with his inspector general. He says that Citizens should be held to the "highest standards of integrity."
The agency's own top lawyers, however, argue that state lawmakers never intended the company to follow state travel laws.
