Globetrotting Gov. John Hickenlooper has traveled near and far to share perspectives and build goodwill toward the Centennial State. Who pays the freight when he goes on tour? It’s a seemingly mundane matter but one that can have political and even legal implications. Kudos to Colorado Peak Politics for raising that question with regard to Hick’s latest upcoming sojourn – to Cuba, in the wake of newly normalized relations with the island nation – and for pressing the point in the absence of a clear answer:

…there’s one big question that looms over this trip – regardless of the issues of legitimizing the Castro regime – who is paying for this junket?

According to the Denver Post, “details on the cost and funding for the trip were not immediately available.”

Of course, if the trip has been comp’d by Cuba or an international organization, there is a question of whether this is allowed according per ethics rules and  whether Hick received clearance to accept those funds. If it’s a taxpayer-funded trip, we have to protest our tax dollars going to legitimize a horrific regime.

The conservative blog is of course referring to Cuba’s status as a nation emerging, sort of, from decades of communist rule under late dictator Fidel Castro, who died last year. Much of the regime he established remains in place under the presidency of his brother Raul Castro.

We haven’t yet heard whether details of the trip’s funding have been disclosed.