DPS Can't Reveal Perry Security Cost, Purges Records

by Jay Root
July 22, 2011
44 Comments

State officials said Friday they can’t reveal how much money taxpayers are spending to protect Gov. Rick Perry, including when he’s outside the state hunting for votes or money in a possible presidential race.

The Department of Public Safety also disclosed Friday that financial records on security costs for the years before 2008 — including the costs related to Perry's security — have been “purged.” Those records include documents that had been the subject of a controversial court case and previous freedom of information requests from news outlets, officials said. The agency was unable to say Friday exactly when ...

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Comments (44)

July 22, 2011 @ 5:03 p.m.

Frank M. Carrejo via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Convenient
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:03 p.m.

Jeff Dean Case via Texas Tribune on Facebook

The imperial governor...
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:07 p.m.

Erica Bozovich Hart via Texas Tribune on Facebook

they should have to keep 7 yrs worth of back logs
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:09 p.m.

Cynthia Dixon via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I know who I'd like to purge...
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:09 p.m.

Carolyn Qualls via Texas Tribune on Facebook

getting rid of evidence is usually why docs are purged!!
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:13 p.m.

River Green via Texas Tribune on Facebook

really.
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:15 p.m.

Peggy Santschi-Yacoben via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Dirty Birds!
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:18 p.m.

Katy Bacon via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Richard Nixon, is that you?
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:18 p.m.

Donald Dickson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

While I am sure the Governor receives threats - as so many politicians do in this day and age - I can't begin to imagine that the threats are so numerous and/or so credible as to justify the money that is spent just shielding the expense reports from public scrutiny, let alone the money spent on security itself. For heaven's sake, when heads of state stay at the Waldorf in New York or at countless other hotels, the hotels FLY THEIR FLAGS so the WHOLE WORLD KNOWS they're staying there! Why it should be some dark secret where Perry's protective detail is staying - let alone the Governor himself - is a complete mystery to me. Having said that, I hasten to note that in a few states the protective detail is many times the size of our own. I am informed that the New York Governor's protective detail now consists of about 200 state police officers. It's like a little private militia, there and here. The whole thing has gotten a little nutty, if you ask me.
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:18 p.m.

Roger Donley via Texas Tribune on Facebook

But I bet they can tell you every "little guy" they pulled over for doing 40 in a 35 zone.
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:20 p.m.

David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Really? Not even 10 year records? I'm sure they have records somewhere, even if they're paper copies in a filing cabinet in some warehouse somewhere.
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:24 p.m.

Maité Landa via Texas Tribune on Facebook

http://www.click2houston.com/politics/1738386/detail.html
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:45 p.m.

Elizabeth Vernon via Texas Tribune on Facebook

They need to keep all of his records until he is no longer governor, and then probably seven years past that. He needs to be able to make an accounting for the taxpayers' money that is spent on him.
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:50 p.m.

Lee Dunkelberg via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Rick Perry:
What we don't know won't hurt him.
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July 22, 2011 @ 5:54 p.m.

Peggy Santschi-Yacoben via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@ Donald Dickerson- I agree!Look if nobody tried to take him out in TX with all the gun toting we have here' and the financial condition he left our Public School system in.I don't think he needs to worry so much he is probably safer traveling around the world than in his own state!Lol!
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July 22, 2011 @ 6:07 p.m.

Bob Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Why would you expect acountablilty from a no-account crook or his cronies. I guess Austin is now Chicago south.
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July 22, 2011 @ 6:13 p.m.

Robert Courtemanche via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Doesn't this violate some law on open records, etc. This sounds like criminal activity to me.
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July 22, 2011 @ 6:15 p.m.

William Foster via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Texas at one time time stood for honesty, fairness and accountability. Sam Houston has to be asking himself what the hell did so many die for? was iot so politicians and their cronies could rob the states treasury!
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July 22, 2011 @ 6:19 p.m.

Elaine Dennis Adkison via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Something about that just doesn't seem right to me!!!!!!!!!!
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July 22, 2011 @ 6:24 p.m.

Sebastian St Troy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Time for Action? Recall Gov. Perry and all representatives that hid this bill in a school finance bill. It's time for the people to take up 'arms' and fight for what is right.
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July 22, 2011 @ 6:44 p.m.

Pauline Sims via Texas Tribune on Facebook

premature eradication...
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July 22, 2011 @ 6:53 p.m.

Bob Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Sebastian, there is no provision for referendum in Texas law except in primary party politics. I believe there are some requirements in local jurisdiction where taxes have to be voted on but there is no statewide iniative or referendum laws. There are people that have tried to pass a law that would allow for this and if you are interested here is the website.
http://www.initiativefortexas.org/
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July 22, 2011 @ 7:06 p.m.

Rudy Gonzales

Here's my call out to every newspaper, reporter and and anyone else who has any coverage dates, sources, itinerary or other pertinent info on Perry and his screwing of the Texas taxpayers. Forward this info to the TEXAS TRIBUNE and I'm sure they can get some good people to review and place a cost on this. Under the freedom of information act the TEXAS TRIBUNE can seek copies of checks and receipts from the different sources and get some review of Perry's shenanigans. There is always backups and copies of paid, cancelled checks and pertinent data to get a decent picture of Where, When, Why, Who, What and how he screwed the Texas taxpayers. This ;looks like a lame excuse for hiding expenses he should have paid personally but told or let the state help him get to the millionaire status he has attained!
July 22, 2011 @ 7:10 p.m.

Rudy Gonzales

Perry is acting like "I'm not a crook"!
July 22, 2011 @ 7:28 p.m.

Peggy Santschi-Yacoben via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@Bob Brown,Hey I thought he was modeling his actions after the Ex Mayor of NY!Man my old home town of Chicago is always tied to the whipping post!Lol!
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July 22, 2011 @ 7:58 p.m.

Bob Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Hey if the shoe fits.... I can say this is not new to Texas either we have had our share of shady deals and unfortunately many were Dems in the old days.
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July 22, 2011 @ 8:27 p.m.

Rhonda Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Well of course they've purged their records. That's normal criminal procedure, isn't it? Get rid of the evidence...
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July 22, 2011 @ 9:56 p.m.

Lonnie Beene via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I'm shocked. :|
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July 22, 2011 @ 10:17 p.m.

Sharon Richard via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Well, isn't that special?!
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July 22, 2011 @ 11:18 p.m.

Leesa Monroe via Texas Tribune on Facebook

How convenient...
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July 23, 2011 @ 3:17 a.m.

DL Perry via Texas Tribune on Facebook

LIARS! Those records damn well better be available.
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July 23, 2011 @ 3:31 a.m.

Lance Lowry via Texas Tribune on Facebook

All the coverup sounds like Rick Perry might have something he needs to hide from the public. I think Politico had a great article on Rick Perry's secret. Maybe when he runs for President the national media will investigate further.
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July 23, 2011 @ 8:21 a.m.

John Carhart via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Despite the HAIR, this guy is looking more like NIXON every day! Where are the tapes?
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July 23, 2011 @ 9:38 a.m.

Gerald Tri

I think I will run for governor because i need help paying to learn how to scuba dive and better my golf game. Just think of all the money we tax payers have paid out since he has been the governor. I think that money would have been better spent on EDUCATION.
July 23, 2011 @ 10:16 a.m.

Sebastian St Troy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@Bob, Yes, I know that there are only a few cities in Texas that can actually do a re-call, Thank you for the link. We, the people, need to take back control of government and by changing our laws to allow for the re-call of any elected official then we would regain our voice. Other states have re-calls, it's time for Texas to do the same, as we can no longer afford governors like Perry or Bush and other representatives that have put our state in such danger of political hijacking.
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July 23, 2011 @ 11:14 a.m.

Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I suspect God did not tell Rick to do this!
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July 23, 2011 @ 11:37 a.m.

Otto Olivera

From what the article states, it sounds like the DPS, itself, broke the law by destroying these records, since "agencies are not supposed to get rid of documents when court cases are pending or when there are outstanding public information requests for them." Has the DPS become Tricky Rick's personal police force? It sounds like totalitarian government circumstances are burgeoning in Texas, under Chairman Rick!
July 23, 2011 @ 9:18 p.m.

Debra Haas via Texas Tribune on Facebook

So much for fiscally conservative and transparent government.
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July 24, 2011 @ 12:58 a.m.

Carolyn Collier via Texas Tribune on Facebook

makes you wonder how much they spend
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July 24, 2011 @ 5:44 p.m.

Matthew Rice via Texas Tribune on Facebook

http://www.mynewcompany.com/blog/how-long-to-keep-business-records/

Only keeping records for 3 years is suspect and refusing to release records is even more suspect. Remember, it was the accounting that end up getting Al Capone arrested...the devil's in the digits.
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July 24, 2011 @ 5:54 p.m.

Timothy Bradberry

I would suggest that some watchdog group should request an accounting of how much public money is being spent for security for President Obama who it seems is campaigning about every time he opens his mouth.
July 25, 2011 @ 1:29 a.m.

Bert Chadwick

Gov. Rick Perry does not want to reveal how much taxpayer money is spent on his security. DPS said Sat. that past records were "purged." So nobody will know how much Perry security costs.

Isn't this the same guy, the same candidate Rick Perry, who refused debate Bill White for governor because White did not show some financial records from the times when he was in a past official post?

So, what's gonna be? When is convenient or inconvenient?
July 25, 2011 @ 1:33 a.m.

Bert Chadwick

God Urges Rick Perry Not To Run For President

http://www.theonion.com/articles/god-urges-rick-perry-not-to-run-for-president,20981/
July 25, 2011 @ 9:44 a.m.

namoyer

DPS acts like its a law unto itself; oops, I guess they are...