A partisan fight is emerging between state Democrats and Gov. Bobby Jindal and his allies over state-paid expenses related to Jindal’s out-of-state travels for fundraisers, campaign events and media appearances. Jindal has made 17 out-of-state trips, according to a list compiled by The Associated Press, and confirmed by Jindal’s administration, since his inauguration — three additional trips have been taken since the list was published, including a trip to Texas last week for a fundraiser, pushing the total to 20. The cost to the state for nine of the 17 events — the ones exclusively for fundraisers — reached at least $23,000, and the total for all the trips exceeds $54,000. The AP tallied the costs of hotel, airfare, car rental and meal costs of the Louisiana state troopers that accompanied Jindal for each trip.  The Louisiana Democratic Party is calling for Jindal to repay the expenses incurred by taxpayers.”At a time when Louisiana faces a serious budget shortfall and Gov. Jindal is proposing crippling cuts to higher education and other critical programs, our governor is taking money from Louisiana taxpayers for his selfish political purposes,” said Chris Whittington, chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party in a press release.  The criticism is a continuation of a running theme by the state Democrats that Jindal is placing national ambitions above the state’s best interest.  “As Gov. Bobby Jindal continues to neglect his gubernatorial duties and jet off to out-of-state campaign fundraisers, it’s Louisiana taxpayers who are footing the bill,” said Scott Jordan, Louisiana Democratic Party spokesman.But Jindal isn’t without his defenders.”This critique by the Democrats is blatant hypocrisy,” said Aaron Baer, spokesman for the state Republican Party.Baer said the Democrats never called for former Gov. Kathleen Blanco to reimburse the state for her travel expenses, and he said Jindal “takes every opportunity he can” to promote Louisiana’s progress and interests when he travels.  Bob Mann, former communications director for Blanco and political communication professor for the Manship School of Mass Communication, said he couldn’t blame Jindal for traveling for fundraisers.”It’s hard to tell a politician they can’t raise money,” Mann said.  “You can’t just assume you won’t have an opponent.”  But Mann criticized Jindal for not taking more opportunities to conducting in “economic development” when he travels out of state for fundraisers — participating in events like meetings with community business leaders and giving public speeches to promote Louisiana interests.  Mann said the Blanco administration grappled with a similar criticism — that Blanco traveled to much — and he said the way they handled “the heat” was by ensuring Blanco’s travels were about economic development first and political interests second.  And, eventually, he said, they had to figure out a way to maintain a balance between the advisors who wanted her to travel — often Mann himself — and those who wanted her to stay put and govern. It’s a balance Jindal will need to achieve, he said.  “He’s not governing while he’s out doing that,” he said. —-Contact Nate Monroe [email protected]