Topeka The State Board of Education today didn’t curb its travel policy that is allowing board member Connie Morris to spend a week in Washington, D.C., at taxpayer expense just days before she leaves office.

The board deadlocked 5-5 on a proposal that would prohibit board members from using tax dollars to travel out of state after they are defeated in an election.

Morris, a Republican from St. Francis, was defeated in August by Sally Cauble of Liberal in the GOP primary.

She will leave office next month. She said she plans to travel to Washington later this week to meet with immigration and education organizations and elected officials. Expenses related to previous travel plans were an issue in her campaign.

Today, Morris pushed for a stricter travel policy in the future, although she said she wouldn’t abide by the proposal for her own travel plans.

“This whole thing is a sham. I know it’s all politics and just a matter of getting me off the board,” Morris said.

Education Board Chairman Steve Abrams, a Republican from Arkansas City, defended Morris, saying that her travel expenses were within her board travel allotment.

“She’s been the one beat up on this and without reason. She’s been abiding by our policy from the git-go,” Abrams said.

Several board members, however, were critical of Morris’ judgment, but still voted against the tighter restrictions because they said it was unfair to apply the proposal to a future board and not Morris.

When the new board takes office next month it will have a 6-4 moderate majority, a change from the current 6-4 conservative majority.