Nikki Haley Is Expensive

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley bills Palmetto State taxpayers for her security when she travels – but other state’s taxpayers are being forced to pick up the tab, as well.

In fact protecting Haley during her visit to the Republican National Convention in Tampa last year was the single most expensive security job performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) over the previous twelve months, according to reporter Steve Bousquet of The Tampa Bay Times.

“The single costliest security assignment was to protect South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley during the week of the Republican convention, which cost nearly $18,000,” Bousquet reports.

Bousquet adds that Haley has “paid seven visits to the state in the past year, the most of any out-of-state dignitary.”

Wait … why would it be more expensive to protect Haley as opposed to other dignitaries?

Oh right … Nikki likes to party.

Haley has previously come under fire for racking up exorbitant security costs on political trips – including fundraising trips. That’s a violation of state law – which bans taxpayer resources from being used for political purposes. Haley has since reimbursed taxpayers for some – but not all – of those costs.

Will she reimburse Florida taxpayers?

Pic: Travis Bell Photography