COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The House's leading Democrat says taxpayers should not be paying for Republican Gov. Nikki Haley's security detail when she's out of state on personal business.
House Minority Leader Harry Ott of St. Matthews plans to introduce legislation Thursday that bars public officials from using taxpayer-funded security on personal trips.
The proposal comes after it was reported that Haley's campaign will reimburse the state this summer for the cost of her security on out-of-state fundraising trips in her first 18 months in office.
Ott says his bill would cover other personal trips too, such as Haley's recent book tour in New York and Washington, and campaigning for presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey says the governor wishes she didn't need security but it's an unfortunate part of her job.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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