Kaine refuses to give GOP travel records
Published: June 27, 2009
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is refusing to turn over to the Republican Party of Virginia records of his out-of-state travel as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
In a letter late yesterday afternoon to state GOP Chairman Pat Mullins, Kaine communications director Lynda Tran said Kaine has no legal obligation to make public such documents.
In a written statement, Republican spokesman Tim Murtaugh said the party will review Kaine's response over the weekend before commenting.
Last week, Mullins filed a Freedom of Information Act request for copies of the governor's schedule and expense and travel records for his state police bodyguard.
Against the backdrop of the campaign to decide Kaine's successor, the request is part of an increasingly aggressive stance against the departing governor by the state GOP.
Republican criticism of Kaine as DNC head contrasts sharply with Democrats' somewhat muted response eight years ago to the selection of the Gov. Jim Gilmore as chairman of the national GOP.
Tran said that Mullins can track Kaine's movements through the Democrat's public schedule, available online and sent to reporters each week.
That schedule does not include political events, such as fundraisers for state legislative candidates, or travel outside Virginia on behalf of the DNC.
Tran said that Kaine -- under state law and a 1991 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court -- is free to keep confidential, as working papers, his detailed daily schedule.
Kaine, handpicked in January by President Barack Obama to lead the Democratic National Committee, says he is not hiding his travel as party boss.
On Tuesday, during an online chat at The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Kaine said that Virginians need only ask where he's going on national party business -- typically fundraising -- and he will tell them.
Megan Rhyne, executive director of the nonpartisan Virginia Coalition for Open Government told The Associated Press yesterday: "We have the perfect example of why it's important for people to know where a governor is traveling, and it's right down the road in South Carolina.
"With Governor Kaine, it's also important because if he does pledge to keep the expenses from DNC separate, there has to be a way for people to verify for themselves whether he's actually doing that."
Kaine acknowledged Thursday that the state has run up a bill on travel by the Executive Protection Unit, which keeps troopers at the governor's side wherever he goes.
But Kaine said the DNC will reimburse taxpayers for that expense; so far, less than $10,000.
Contact jschapiro at (804) 649-6814 or
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Reader Reactions
Headline reads Kaine refuses to give travel records.Then what happened on tuesday when he said that Virginians only need to ask where he is going on democratic party business, then he would tell them. Well I guess that the people are asking, so he will be telling. Could it be that simple.
The girl that commented from the Open government group in the article has it correct. There is no way to match up the reimbursements to trips taken if nobody but Kaine knows where the trips were taken. He can tell us the DNC is reimbursing the state, but there is absolutely no way to verify it without the travel history. And he knows that. He’s just playing politics as usual with him.
polidork said, “or maybe he just doesn’t think it’s necessary to submit to the demands of the GOP.“ Just because they’re members of a political party doesn’t negate the Republican’s rights as citizens of the Commonwealth to have access to the public records of the Commonwealth. What’s Timmy hiding? Maybe an Argentine girlfriend?
Per reading some of the post on this site, I see some of my “fair weather friends” are having another tantrum. May I remind them that those of yester-year; of simular persuasions, once be-headed people for proposing that the world was round! LOL. Constructive crticism, by all means,but finger pointing and stone throwing serves no intellegent porpose. When will they ever learn???
Kaine is nothing but a figurehead politician. I know someone who worked on his staff over the past few years and they said the same thing. He gets his adgenda from the Democrat/Socialist party leaders in DC, puts on that stupid smirk that dogtown referred to, and drives a stake into the heart of good ole’ VA.
or maybe he just doesn’t think it’s necessary to submit to the demands of the GOP. You Republicans are so quick to throw stones; don’t you learn anything from recent events? Maybe when the GOP becomes cooperative and open, Kaine will respond in kind
Timmy Turner is refusing to turn over to the Republican Party of Virginia records of his out-of-state travel as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
You’re a bad, bad boy TIMMY! You’re beginning to sound like a GM executive or a Wall Street executive or even PRESIDENT of the United States! Hummm I know you like that sound of that last one…….
The GOP needs to hire my X-Wife’s lawyer; he subpoena’s every frickin move I make! I’m looking for him to show up in the john anytime now to remove his lips while tracking my next MOVEMENT!
Those who are residents of the City of Richmond only have to recall Kaine’s tenure as Mayor to understand what an arrogant and self-centered person he is. If you attended City Council meetings or saw them telecast on cable TV during the time he was Mayor or simply a councilman, you’ll recall the arrogant smirk on his face every time a citizen attempted to address Council and espoused views other than those that fit Kaine’s agenda. During those years, it was clear that the only opinions he wanted to hear were those that coincided with his own.
Regarding the travel records, one would hope that the Auditor of Public Accounts would investigate and issue a report confirming whether or not the State is fully reimbursed for all the expenses of DNC travel Kaine charged the Commonwealth. That investigation, of course, will depend on whether Kaine allies in the General Assembly are able to prevent it from moving forward.
Kaine, you are a state employee, although elected, and Virginia Taxpayers have an absolute right to assurance that you have not misappropriated State funds to benefit the DNC. Your refusal to make the records available convinces me that you have, in fact, misappropriated State money and misused State resources.
So lets recap, a few days ago Kaine said if asked he would tell people who inquired about his various travels. So now that he has been asked, he refuses to tell. Is there no end to the lies? This clown needs to go to Washington now. He is certainly qualified.
How about that transparency we keep hearing about??? Certainly there’s nothing in those records Gov. Kaine would not want the good citizens of VA to see???
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