Duckworth uses state car for Seals campaign stop

State Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth used a state minivan Wednesday to get to and from a campaign event for congressional candidate Dan Seals, an ethics lapse that drew quick fire from Republicans.

VA spokeswoman Jessica Woodward called Duckworth's move a "mistake" and an "oversight."

"She will be reimbursing the state and this mistake will not be happening again," Woodward said.

Woodward said Duckworth would reimburse the state at 50.5 cents per mile. The minivan has a special lift that helps Duckworth, who is wheelchair bound, get in and out with a lift.

When asked by reporters at the Seals news conference, Duckworth made clear she was not attending on state time.

"I'm just here as a vet," said the former helicopter pilot who lost both legs in Iraq.

Duckworth was dropped off at the Wheeling event in the state minivan but left in a Honda that didn't have government license plates. She apparently transferred back to the state minivan later.

The use of state resources for campaign purposes has been a problem for Illinois politicians for years. It is also against the law.

However, Cindi Canary, director of the watchdog Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said it could be OK for Duckworth to use the minivan if she needs it because of her disability and as long as she reimburses the state.

But she added, "Generally, you take the day off and you don't use a state car."

Reimbursements are not uncommon. Under state law the governor can even use the state-owned plane for political activities as long as the state is reimbursed by his campaign fund, Canary said.

Still, Republicans pounced on the use of a taxpayer-funded car in relation to a campaign appearance.

"I'm worried about a Blagojevich staffer showing up to a campaign event (in a state car)," said U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican who is facing Seals for a second time. "It is exactly the kind of thing that got the governor's office into trouble under George Ryan."