CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
Times-Picayune (excerpt)

In the wake of recent reports on the questionable use of taxpayer-funded credit cards by Mayor Ray Nagin and his aides, City Councilman Arnie Fielkow has asked the city's inspector general to "formally review" the city's business-expense policies and recommend ways to improve them.

Credit cards billed to the city have been used to ring up $180,000 in purchases, mostly meals and travel expenses, over a recent six-month period. The bills, topped by a $3,800 tally at Morton's Steakhouse, were run up at some of the city's priciest restaurants.

Three officials have done most of the spending: Nagin, communications director Ceeon Quiett and outgoing intergovernmental affairs director Kenya Smith. They also were the only officials who provided no documentation of their expenses, though Smith and Quiett have said all of their purchases were justified.