Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (Photo: WBOC)RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Bob McDonnell reported more than $43,000 worth of travel underwritten last year by taxpayers pursuing his administration's priority, economic development.
Financial disclosure forms from elected officials show that travel and gifts the governor received during the past year totaled $99,092, slightly more than the $90,000 former Gov. Tim Kaine reported four years ago.
That's according to records and analysis by the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan tracker of money in state politics.
More than four-fifths of the state-paid travel was trade missions to Asia, Israel and the Paris Air Show paid by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
Gifts included a $4,000 pair of night-vision goggles from ITT Defense and Information Solutions and $14,500 in travel, lodging and sports tickets to his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame.
