Texans still paying for security in Perry political trips

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, right, in August at a campaign rally in Basalt, Colo. Perry was on his way to Aspen for a Republican Governors Association event. less GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, right, in August at a campaign rally in Basalt, Colo. Perry was on his way to Aspen for a Republican ... more Photo: Charles Dharapak Photo: Charles Dharapak Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Texans still paying for security in Perry political trips 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - His presidential race is long past, but Gov. Rick Perry keeps racking up the out-of-state travel miles and Texans keep paying the expenses for his security detail, even when some of the trips were for campaign events in support of other candidates.

The taxpayers' tab for Perry's security detail has reached $2.3 million for out-of-state trips since his November 2010 re-election, including $109,111 in the latest quarterly report released Thursday by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Among destinations in the most recent report were San Diego; Boston; Aspen, Colo.; and Elko, Nev.

Perry's direct travel costs generally are paid by his campaign or other means, not taxpayers. Expenses for his security detail are paid primarily through the state highway fund, which is fueled by the state gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees.

The latest report covers June through August, plus some earlier expenses that came in after previous reports were filed. Travel costs include airfare, rental car, food and lodging. The total does not include overtime for his security detail.

Much of the grand total - more than $1.8 million - spanned August through January, covering Perry's White House race. The rest is for out-of-Texas trips before and after that brief campaign for state business, political reasons or vacation.

California journeys

The security detail's largest out-of-state travel expense in the most recent report was $29,198 in June, when Perry spoke to the California Independent Petroleum Association and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and toured the Scripps Research Institute.

There was a $1,941 expense for La Jolla the same month, plus a $1,379 expense listed for San Diego in August, when Perry spoke at the Skyline Church in the suburb of La Mesa, took part in an adult-stem-cell meeting with researchers and vacationed.

The report shows $14,479 in security detail expenses for a trip to Boston, where Perry spoke at a June biotechnology conference.

The same month, it shows $4,366 in security detail expenses for a trip to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where Perry campaigned for a GOP candidate for state attorney general; $4,155 for a trip to Kansas City, where Perry spoke at a pastors' event; and $6,295 for a Charleston, W.Va., trip, where Perry campaigned for a GOP candidate for governor.

Taxpayers were billed $8,386 for a July trip to Elko, where Perry campaigned for Mitt Romney.

The report lists $12,414 in security detail expenses in July for a trip to Aspen, plus $158 in August. Perry attended a Republican Governors Association retreat in Aspen in early August, then took a hiking trip in San Luis.

No plans to pay

Some Democrats have called for Perry to reimburse taxpayers for security detail expenses related to his campaign. Perry repeatedly has rebuffed the idea, saying the security need is determined by DPS and noting that he is governor wherever he goes.

"We live in a world where security is an issue, and I'm always thankful for those over at the department who keep us and other elected officials safe, and they've got a long-standing policy of providing security for sitting governors and their families," Perry said last month, after he and his wife, Anita, returned from a trip to Italy to promote Texas. Security detail expenses for that trip have not yet been reported.

Part of the job

Political scientist Jerry Polinard, of the University of Texas-Pan American, said whether people look askance at the cost will depend on whether they support Perry and each trip's purpose.

"For the supporters of the governor, this has no adverse impact, and they accept that as a part of the job. For those who oppose the governor, they see it as another example of misplaced priorities, in the sense of focusing on some of the budgetary needs, such as education and health care," Polinard said.

Polinard added that if a trip "has a direct benefit for the state, I don't believe the citizens of Texas are concerned about the expense of the security detail. I think they understand that's necessary." If a trip's priority centers on Perry's personal political goals, he said, "I think that raises a very legitimate question."

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