He may not act like a retiree, but GOP presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry has collected monthly retirement benefits for much of the year. The governor elected in January to start receiving a state employee retirement annuity of $7,698 a month, according to a federal financial disclosure made by the Perry campaign Thursday. The benefit comes on top of the governor’s annual salary of $150,000.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks during a campaign stop at a VFW post, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Nashua, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

As part of his presidential bid, Gov. Perry wants to slash salaries for the president and members of Congress and freeze all pending federal regulations to downsize government.

Campaign spokesman Ray Sullivan said the 61-year-old governor’s combined military service, state service and age exceed the 80 years required to qualify for the retirement benefit under Texas law as amended in 1991, when Mr. Perry was no longer in the legislature. “It is perfectly normal for people in their 60s to start thinking and acting on their financial plans,” Mr. Sullivan said.

Texas Democratic Party spokesman Anthony Gutierrez called the benefit “unconscionable” when state budget cuts have cost thousands of teachers their jobs. “If Perry wants retirement benefits,” Mr. Gutierrez said, “he should do us all a favor and actually retire.”