Private Agenda funding puppet politicians publically policy provisions
Posted on September 12, 2007 at 03:37:54 AM by Oh Banking in the Cayman USA
AUSTIN -- Texas has spent more than $250,000 to provide security for Gov. Rick Perry and his wife during international trips, state records show.
Most of the trips were touted as economic development missions, but the security tally also includes a Grand Cayman vacation last year and a 2004 trip to the Bahamas with campaign donors that the governor's office said was to discuss education.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has spent $259,428 on the Governor Protective Detail for nine trips since 2004, according to figures obtained by Texas newspapers.
When it comes to Perry's direct expenses, travel costs are normally covered by a privately funded economic development program overseen by his office, business contributions or his campaign. But the state covers security costs.
"Whenever the governor travels, we go with him. That's the way it's been with past governors," DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said.
Perry spokesman Robert Black said the governor's travel is important to advancing his economic development agenda.
"As the leader of the 10th largest economy in the world, the governor has made job creation and economic development a cornerstone of his administration, and that means ... bringing jobs to this state, whether from inside our own country or from around the world," Black said Tuesday.
The DPS highway patrol budget, financed mostly by the state gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees, funds the security detail.
http://www.caller.com/news/2007/aug/9/perrys-security-on-trips-costs-259k/
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