The Journal-Sentinel breaks a daddy-long legs of a story that’s sure to crawl up your summertime reading list.

Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Jack Fischer and his executive liaison (read "administrative assistant"), Deborah Godt, traveled to three international locations in less than three months this spring, billing Wisconsin taxpayers more than $21,000.

$555 per night hotel rooms.

$520 for dry cleaning.

$80 dinners.

Yes, Europe is expensive. And the state budget is a mess. And there are travel restrictions in effect for state employees. And no other commerce secretary has traveled internationally without the governor.

When the other secretaries have traveled overseas, they brought along staff with international trade experience … not assistants.

The summer pulp fiction reader in me is looking forward to the next chapter.