BOSTON (
MyFoxBoston.com) -- Governor Deval Patrick, whose term ends in January, and who has basically three months left in office, tells FOX25 political reporter Sharman Sacchetti he's going on yet another taxpayer-funded overseas trip.
This time he's going to Denmark, the UK, and France.
This will be the governor's third trip this calendar year, and his fifth trip in 11 months. He is boasting that he's been to fourteen countries while in office.
Beginning Sept. 14 until the 19, Patrick will be in Europe. The cost is estimated at $150,000.
In May, he went to Israel and the United Arab Emirates. In March, he went to Panama and Mexico.
All of this traveling during his last year in office raises a lot of questions about whether this governor is building his portfolio as he looks for a new job in January.
He has repeatedly denied that, and tells Sacchetti these trips are good for business.
"We are going to Denmark, France and England for five days, so pretty short," Patrick said.
When asked why he was taking a trip when he only has three months left in office, Patrick responded, "Because there's more work to do and there's deals to close and they're gonna be good deals, too."
"You think it's wise to spend money, tax money, when you've only got three months left?" Sacchetti asked.
"I think it is wise to do the job until I don't have the job anymore, and that's what I've been doing all along and I'm gonna continue to do it," Patrick answered.
So how much has his traveling cost Massachusetts taxpayers?
This trip is in the neighborhood of $150,000. His May trip to Israel, Abu Dhabi and Dubai was estimated to be under $175,000.
The Patrick administration says the cost of the trip will be picked up in part by private business, and also taxpayer funds.
His trip to Panama and Mexico ran between $75,000 $80,000.
In December of 2013, Patrick's trip to Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore cost $130,000., And last October he went to Canada at a cost of $32,000.
Patrick's office sent Sacchetti a long list of what they believe to be economic benefits from his many travels, but there are never exact jobs numbers. The governor has said his overseas trade missions are about relationship building, rather than crafting deals to make widgets.
