Kaine Admits Virginians Paid for DNC Expenses

- Political Governor Invites ‘Folks’ to Ask Where He Is – (804) 786-2211 -

Contact: Tim Murtaugh (804) 780-0111

RICHMOND – Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today noted that Governor Tim Kaine has finally arranged for the Democratic National Committee to cover the expenses of his Virginia State Police security detail when he travels in his other job of chairman of the DNC.   Kaine also invited Virginians who want to know where he is at any given moment to simply ask him. He can be reached at the main switchboard number at the Office of the Governor at (804) 786-2211.

“Kaine's office announced that the DNC has agreed to reimburse the state for the expenses of his security detail when the team travels with him on DNC business,” reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Wednesday (“Kaine Defends DNC Trips,” June 24, 2009).

To this point, Kaine has declined to disclose his whereabouts, citing such concerns as security and privacy, despite the fact that Kaine issues a public schedule for his travels within the Commonwealth. Kaine backpedaled following a Freedom of Information Act request from the Republican Party of Virginia seeking his schedule and related expenses.

"I just think the easiest way to handle it is for folks to ask, and I'll answer it," Kaine said to the media on Tuesday (“Kaine on Travel,” Washington Post, Virginia Politics Blog, June 23, 2009, http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/06/kaine_on_travel.html#more).

“It’s good to know that the people of Virginia won’t be footing the bill for his bodyguards when he goes to Florida on political junkets,” said Mullins. “We’ve also asked where Tim Kaine is and where he’s been, but he hasn’t answered those questions yet. Now that he’s said he’ll tell the people about his travel schedule, maybe he’ll actually do it. He said if people ask, he’ll tell them. Well, I suggest people call his office and ask where he is. That number is (804) 786-2211. Ask for the Governor. See if he’s in.”

On Friday, June 19, 2009, Mullins submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the governor’s office, seeking information pertaining to the daily schedule of the governor dating back to January 2009, when he became chairman of the DNC. It further requested records pertaining to expenses related to the use of the State Police Executive Protection Unit assigned to guard the governor's safety.

“Since he hasn’t released his DNC schedule, apparently Tim Kaine thinks he is under a security risk when standing in front of hundreds of partisan Democrats in a ballroom at the $800-per-night Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami,” Mullins said. “I’m not saying that I’d want to be in that room, but it doesn’t sound too dangerous to me.”

An accounting of Kaine’s travel as reported by various news outlets around the country revealed only six disclosed destinations, despite the fact that Kaine has now indicated that he travels on behalf of the DNC about once a week. They are as follows:

·        May 2 – Durham, NC – Saturday

·        May 8 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Friday

·        May 20 – Dallas, TX – Wednesday

·        May 30 – Miami, FL – Saturday

·        June 11 – Chicago, IL – Thursday

·        June 19 – Kansas City, MO – Friday

“Kaine said he will do the DNC job on personal time, evenings and weekends,” reported the Associated Press on January 6, 2009 (“Kaine Says He’ll Limit Time Spent As Party Leader”). “‘I think it will be an electronic gig anyway, using e-mail and phone and others,” Kaine added.

Under Virginia's FOIA law, the governor's office has five working days to respond or can obtain an additional seven days if extra time is needed to compile the requested information. The office can comply completely with the request, issue a partial collection of documents while explaining what legal exemptions allow them to omit others, or deny the request completely while explaining which legal exemptions allow them to refuse the request.

Also on Friday last week, the Republican Party of Virginia unveiled an Internet video spotlighting Kaine’s travel schedule and his reluctance to disclose to Virginia citizens where he is at any given moment. (Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg1kqenUyyI)

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Paid for and authorized by the Republican Party of Virginia