Travel fund for Kasich security tops $350,000

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The cost of Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s security detail has skyrocketed since the Republican began running for president last year.

Records available through the state’s online checkbook show out-of-state travel spending from the Ohio State Highway Patrol fund that pays Kasich’s bodyguards has increased from just under $17,000 during Kasich’s first full year in office to more than $350,000 this fiscal year.

A spokesman for the patrol says the figures might not be exactly comparable due to funding-code changes. He also said the fund can cover out-of-state travel unrelated to Kasich.

Both the governor’s office and the campaign said they don’t comment on security-related issues.