Perry's security tab now at $2.2 million

AUSTIN - Texans have been billed $2.2 million in out-of-state travel expenses for Gov. Rick Perry's security detail since his November 2010 re-election, including his failed presidential bid and other trips ranging from vacations to state business and political gatherings, according to updated figures released Friday.

The new report released by the Texas Department of Public Safety freshly tallies $199,060.07 in expenses for Perry's security detail within and outside Texas, with most for out-of-state trips.

The report covers the March-May fiscal quarter. It also includes expenses dating back to the September start of the fiscal year that came in after earlier reports were compiled.

Combined with figures released previously, the report shows the out-of-state travel expenses for Perry's security detail since his November 2010 re-election now total $2.2 million.

More than $1.8 million was incurred between August and January, spanning Perry's presidential race.

Perry's direct travel costs generally are paid by his campaign, but expenses for his security detail are paid mainly through the state highway fund, which includes proceeds from the state gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees.

Travel costs in the report include such items as airfare, rental car, food and lodging.

The quarterly report doesn't include overtime for Perry's security detail, which totaled more than $2.8 million from November 2010 through February. The overtime total includes trips within and outside of Texas.

The largest recent travel expense tallied in the report was a trip to San Diego, Calif., for $27,143.76.

Perry was in San Diego at the end of March on vacation, said his spokeswoman, Catherine Frazier. While there, he attended a U.S. Marine Corps graduation ceremony and toured a stem cell lab at Scripps Research Institute "to learn more about what is going on there in terms of stem cell research, which he's made clear he wants to advance in Texas," Frazier said.

Gridiron Club splash

The governor - who had surgery on his back a year ago in a procedure that included the injection of his own stem cells - has advocated adult stem cell use.

Among other trips, the DPS report showed a total of $17,733.69 for a trip to Washington, D.C., in March, when Perry made a splash at the Gridiron Club dinner.

Perry also traveled out of state before announcing for president, with trips to meet with business leaders, lay the groundwork for his bid and promote his book, "Fed Up!"

Some Democrats have called for Perry to reimburse taxpayers for security detail expenses related to his campaign.

Points to predecessors

"It seems like everybody else is tightening their belt, except for him," said state Rep. Jessica Farrar of Houston, House Democratic Caucus leader, referring to state budget cuts and the potential of more to come. "If he's asking for us to tighten our belts, he needs to look for a few notches himself," Farrar said.

Perry and his staff have repeatedly turned aside the idea that he should cover the security costs, saying Perry is governor wherever he is and noting that previous governors also had security.

"He is always working to promote policies that are in the best interests of our state and that will keep Texas a national economic leader," said Frazier, his spokeswoman.

Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson drew a distinction between Perry or other governors traveling to advocate for their states and his presidential campaign.

"To the naked eye of the casual observer like me," Jillson said of the presidential bid, "that's a campaign tab."

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