Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell spent $43,584 on taxpayer-funded trips last year, more than twice what the office has spent since at least 2006.
Trade missions to India, China, Israel and Paris during 2011 made up nearly $37,000 of those expenses, according to analysis of McDonnell’s financial disclosure report by the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan watchdog of political spending.
Since VPAP began tracking those expenditures six years ago, the most a governor spent in a year was $18,000.
“Those trips got results,” McDonnell spokeswoman Taylor Thornley said. “They were responsible for more than 1,800 new jobs created in Virginia, $21 million in new capital investment made in Virginia, and more than $75 million in new agricultural exports from Virginia, all in 2011 alone.
“The governor’s economic development trips have produced significant results for Virginia that dwarf the very limited costs associated with them.”
McDonnell also reported receiving about $56,000 in gifts worth more than $50 each, including a $4,028 pair of night-vision goggles from ITT Defense and Information Solutions — donated to the Virginia State Police — and a $14,500 trip to University of Notre Dame to speak and catch a sporting event.
Clothing maker J. Crew also donated a suit jacket, pants and a shirt valued at $665. The Republican Party of Virginia paid the governor $225 to speak at its annual retreat in Hot Springs.
The annual financial disclosure forms also show the governor had a relatively modest income in 2011. He reported receiving $50,000 to $250,000 from investments in two Virginia Beach rental property groups — Mobo Real Estate Partners and Race Horse Properties — and between $10,000 and $50,000 from Blue Ridge Heaven LLC.
