COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann’s use of a state plane has landed him a new title: “Porker of the Month.”

The award comes from the Buckeye Institute, an anti-tax think tank based in Columbus.

Dann was cited for use of the state’s Beechcraft King Air 90 twin-engine airplane 13 times, at a cost of $22,039.

In a written statement, Buckeye Institute President David Hansen said in one instance Dann used the state plane to fly to New York City.

Hansen said had Dann opted for a commercial flight instead it would have saved taxpayers thousands of dollars.

“The attorney general should look for ways to spend tax dollars more efficiently, especially in this time of Ohio job losses and tight state budgets,” Hansen said.

Hansen added that Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has not used the state plane and former Attorney General Jim Petro did not use it the entire time he was in office.

The Buckeye Institute also awarded its “Pistol of the Month” to State Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, for a bill he sponsored to give taxpayers online access to legislative earmarks and other spending information.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com