COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Records released today show that the director of an Ohio agency facing allegations she used state time and resources for political activities in support of Barack Obama has made more than a dozen out-of-state trips while in office.
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But none of the travel records suggest that Department of Job and Family Services Director Helen Jones-Kelley took trips on state time or used state resources to engage in improper political activity.
Jones-Kelley is under investigation by the state Inspector General for allegedly using a state computer or e-mail account to assist in political fundraising.
The state also is investigating whether she improperly authorized the agency to gather personal information on a northwest Ohio man who became known as "Joe the Plumber" during the presidential campaign. She has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigations are conducted.
Jones-Kelley has said the records check on plumber Joe Wurzelbacher was prompted by his public statements that he had an outstanding tax lien.
Wurzelbacher told Obama during a campaign stop that he didn't agree with his tax plan because he felt it would hurt his chances at buying a plumbing business, and the McCain campaign seized on Wurzelbacher's statements.
Travel records show that Jones-Kelley's most frequent destination was Washington, D.C., for conferences and congressional hearings involving child welfare and other social services topics. Other destinations included New York City, Tucson, Ariz., Chicago and Long Beach, Calif., also for meetings and conferences.
Many Republican state lawmakers were upset about the release of Wurzelbacher's personal information. They sent Jones-Kelley letters expressing disapproval of her public statements about the rationale for digging into Wurzelbacher's background.
House Speaker Jon Husted of Kettering says the GOP is crafting legislation that would strengthen laws about state use of personal data and increase penalties for violations.
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