State troopers accompany Gov. Bobby Jindal wherever he travels. Taxpayer dollars cover the expenses for the troopers, even when the trips are not tied directly to state business. Since his inauguration in January 2008, Jindal has made at least 17 such trips. Two trips were scheduled, then canceled, but expenses were incurred. The list of state-paid security expenses does not include fundraiser trips this week to New York and Boston.
— Jan. 27-28, 2008: To California for a speech at Koch Industries, described as a campaign-related trip: $3,563.21.
— April 27-29, 2008: To California for the “Tonight Show”: $4,270.24.
— May 1-2, 2008: To Washington, D.C., for speech to the National Press Club, $2,478.90.
— May 17-18, 2008: To Kentucky for a speech to the National Rifle Association: $4,038.90.
— May 23-25, 2008: To Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s ranch: $3,239.97.
— June 13-17, 2008: A planned Jindal fundraiser to California is canceled. Tickets were purchased but not used. A Jindal spokeswoman says the troopers can use the credits for future trips, but that hasn’t happened yet: $2,140.50.
— Aug. 4-6 and Aug. 28, 2008: Republican National Convention trip to Minneapolis is canceled because of Hurricane Gustav. Troopers did advance work, however, to prepare for the trip: $3,475.58.
— Oct. 13, 2008: To Houston for Jindal fundraisers: $1,183.39.
— Oct. 20-21, 2008: First lady Supriya Jindal travels to Pennsylvania to campaign with Cindy McCain on behalf of husband John McCain: $3,756.62.
— Oct. 24-25, 2008: To Washington, D.C., for a Jindal fundraiser: $4,498.98.
— Nov. 13, 2008: To Chicago for a speech to the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce: $867.00.
— Nov. 21-23, 2008: To Iowa for a fundraising dinner for the Iowa Family Policy Center’s “Celebrating the Family” banquet, a high-profile Christian conservative event: $2,057.87.
— Dec. 4-5, 2008: To San Antonio and Houston for Jindal fundraisers: $2,569.60.
— Dec. 9-10, 2008: To Washington, D.C., for fundraisers for U.S. Sen. David Vitter and for Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell in the Virginia governor’s race: $2,986.77.
— Feb. 4, 2009: To North Carolina for Jindal fundraisers: $2,628.28.
— Feb. 6-7, 2009: To Arkansas for Jindal fundraisers and a speech at the Washington County Lincoln Day dinner: $1,109.30.
— March 3-4, 2009: To California for Jindal fundraisers: $3,938.46.
— March 24-25, 2009: To Washington, D.C., for a fundraising dinner held by the National Republican Congressional Committee and for Jindal fundraisers: $3,826.65.
— March 31-April 1, 2009: To Chicago and Missouri for Jindal fundraisers: $1,927.75.
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Source: The Associated Press tallied hotel, airfare, car rental and meal costs from travel records supplied by the Louisiana State Police. The governor’s office confirmed the purpose for each trip. Travel costs for March 2009 are incomplete because not all expense reports had been filed.
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