Ah, Politics...

Is this an economic move... or a slap at a political opponent?

Missouri is getting ready to sell off two of its older airplanes and a hangar at the airport in Jefferson City, as the state's top administrator says they're just not used enough to justify the expense. After all... if Republican Governor Matt Blunt wants to go anywhere, he generally flies himself, and pays for it out of his own campaign funds.

So who IS flying on the state-owned aircraft? Well, the Associated Press has looked at the logs from January of 2005 through the end of last month... and it turns out the most frequent flyer is Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Oh, did we mention Nixon is seen as the opposition's front-running candidate for governor in 2008? And that the Republican party has already gone on the offensive, accusing Nixon of using the planes to campaign on the taxpayer's nickel?

Despite the strong whiff of partisanship, Mike Keathley, commissioner of the Missouri State Office of Administration, says selling off aviation assets has nothing to do with sticking pins in a Jay Nixon doll.

Despite the sale of the planes, Keathley says any state leader who needs a hop will be able to get one, on the newer King Air the government is holding onto... even after Missouri's high-flying governor leaves office.

By selling the two aircraft and the hangar, Keathley says the state hopes to put about $650,000 in the kitty, and save about $175,000 a year in operating expenses. 

FMI: www.mo.gov