Lawmakers Move to Limit Scrutiny of Perry Travel

by Jay Root
June 28, 2011
27 Comments

Just as Gov. Rick Perry steps out on the national stage in a possible run for president, lawmakers back home are moving to limit public scrutiny of what taxpayers are being charged to protect the governor when he's out on the road.

Under a compromise adopted by the state Senate Tuesday, the public could still get the total cost figures. But for a period of 18 months, the public would not know how or where the money is being spent. That would put off any detailed disclosure of security costs for Perry that are paid for by the state ...

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Comments (27)

June 28, 2011 @ 4:57 p.m.

Carolyn Qualls via Texas Tribune on Facebook

why can't we know where and what we are paying for?
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:03 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Good question Carolyn.
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:04 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Another good question--what is Perry hiding?
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:04 p.m.

Joe Trevino via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Good o'boys are at it again!
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:07 p.m.

Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook

People support these GOP'ers?
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:09 p.m.

Keri Pack via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Boy, that's not very TEA-partier of the Gov, now is it?
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:13 p.m.

Ben Martinez via Texas Tribune on Facebook

So much for transparency.
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:16 p.m.

Kyle King via Texas Tribune on Facebook

shocking development, I say...shocking! hehe
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:26 p.m.

Adam Colligan

As someone who is no fan of our current governor, I'm still surprised by this shock! horror! reaction. According to the article, the provision only applies to security spending, and the full cost of security is disclosed. What is not disclosed is detailed information that would allow you to infer, for example, how many bodyguards are present at a given event. And the information is eventually released, just after a time interval that the authors think makes it less operationally relevant.
June 28, 2011 @ 5:36 p.m.

John Dettling via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I would share this on my wall but everyone already knows Perry is scum bag and they really don't seem to care. It's all okay because he's a republican.
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:44 p.m.

Dale H Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook

So we paid for his scuba and golf when he went to the bahammas! Why? So much for tparty fiscal responsilbility.
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June 28, 2011 @ 5:50 p.m.

Sharon Richard via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Limit scrutiny? Sheesh. John is so right. So many really don't seem to care. But I'm sharing on my wall anyway.
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June 28, 2011 @ 6 p.m.

John Carhart via Texas Tribune on Facebook

"Power corrupts: absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Lord Acton
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June 28, 2011 @ 6:14 p.m.

Barbara Boyden Walters via Texas Tribune on Facebook

If they want to hide it, there must be something to hide!
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June 28, 2011 @ 6:18 p.m.

Kimberly Burkett via Texas Tribune on Facebook

And yet you won't hear a peep out of the supposed fiscally conservative tea party nuts. Their big worries are how much Dallas ISD pays for providing lunch to teachers during training sessions. Golf carts and scuba rentals in the Bahamas for King Slick Rick - no problem! hypocrisy thy name is tea party.
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June 28, 2011 @ 6:25 p.m.

Gerald Tri

We as Texas taxpayers should not have to pay for anything that the governor wants to do on his time including his wife. The only thing we would pay for would relate to the state of Texas be it jobs or manufacturing items for the countries he might visit. You gotta love politics. Become a congressman and enjoy the good life + all the perks. Only in America.
June 28, 2011 @ 6:51 p.m.

Sebastian St Troy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

It is just that lawmakers are worried about public perception, not safety for the Gov. I'm sure it is to help hide the fact that he's gay. We should converge on the Capital tomorrow to let them know that this isn't acceptable and is in opposition to Perry's promise for transparancy.
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June 28, 2011 @ 7:29 p.m.

Frances Demps via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Excellently written, Kimberly!
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June 28, 2011 @ 7:42 p.m.

Rudy Gonzales

Texans are so gullible! They believe anything the GOP/TEA party puts out there for them to hear or read. This is what you get in a one party state! Perry added so much BS to this session because He and the Texas Conservative Legislature couldn't do the real job of budgets. In the process the children of Texas will suffer! This is what you get in a one party state!
June 29, 2011 @ 12:48 a.m.

Austin Byrd via Texas Tribune on Facebook

What a dick head-virgina face!
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June 29, 2011 @ 6:44 a.m.

Carolyn Moon via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Let's hear it for letting the people know
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June 29, 2011 @ 9:40 a.m.

treehugger

You mean to tell me Perry can't get the insurance lobby or developers or a F-1 racing billionaire to pay for his security detail?
June 29, 2011 @ 10:36 a.m.

Texascattleco

So we are paying for Rick Perry's exploration of a run for President but the expenses of security and other details are kept from the public until after the 2012 election. Rich. I wonder how many teachers we could pay with this money?
June 29, 2011 @ 11:07 a.m.

Tony Trevino

I think everyone needs to change their thinking about these guys. No amount of criticism will keep the Gov and his supporters from doing whatever they want to. The Governor's job is not about doing for Texas anymore. However, there is a common theme in their arrogance - use taxpayer money to do it.
June 29, 2011 @ 12:04 p.m.

d f

Wonder why the gov does not want taxpayers to know about his Vail, Colorado trip to the Koch hate brothers conflab?
June 30, 2011 @ 1:28 a.m.

Bea McGuire via Texas Tribune on Facebook

And just why is it "tucked in a school finance overhaul"? What's his galavanting around the country NOT running for president have to do with school finance? This is a crock even for a turd like Slick Rick.
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July 1, 2011 @ 9:14 a.m.

Peggy Jones

I'm curious. If Perry's travels are not specifically on behalf of the state of Texas or to conduct state business, why wouldn't the state of Texas (DPS) bill the entity for which Perry is travelling for full reimbursement of our costs to provide a security detail? If he travels for the Republican Party or Governors Association -- simply give them the bill for the taxpayer's costs of providing security. That bill should be public record. Unless the law has changed.