Va. Gov. Kaine made 14 DNC trips, records show
RICHMOND, Va. — Records released Tuesday showed Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine took 14 trips as Democratic National Committee chairman during the first six months of 2009, travel that came under scrutiny after state Republicans questioned whether he was neglecting state duties for party business.
The information from State Police, which handles his security, was released shortly after Kaine’s office made public a five-page itinerary from January through last weekend showing 155 destinations outside the state capital. The Associated Press made the request for the travel records under Virginia’s Freedom of Information law.
The summary shows three DNC trips to New York City, two to Chicago and Florida and single visits to other cities in most every region of the continental United States, reflecting a busy schedule in Kaine’s dual role. It also shows that most party business trips were swings of several days.
Travel by governors has been scrutinized since South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford disappeared for several days recently, telling no one where he was. He returned to tearfully admit that he had visited a mistress in Argentina.
Kaine’s list, which included a stop in Casablanca, did not distinguish between travel on state business or DNC work.
That became clear, however, from the police summary based on travel receipts the governor’s security detail submitted for the Democratic Party to reimburse the state for $7,515.
The state GOP chairman, Pat Mullins, and several Virginia news organizations, including The AP, requested the governor’s travel records after some Republicans questioned his commitment to state duties.
“I work all the time on state business. You can’t get away from it when you’re governor,” Kaine said in an interview last month.
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