Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell, a Republican, has billed taxpayers for travel expenses totaling over $200,000 for the first 17 month’s in office. McDonnell, who utilizes planes and helicopters for short trips throughout the state and to Washington, D.C. for political and official events, racked up $228,444 in expenses from January 16, 2010 to June 9, 2011. The Washington Post received the figures by filing a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request.
During 2007, Tim Kaine, a Democrat and McDonnell’s predecessor billed taxpayers for travels expenses totaling $288,000.
