With presidential bid over, Perry talks Texas

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday he'll continue traveling the country to promote the fiscal and state-sovereignty issues he highlighted in his presidential campaign, rejecting calls to reimburse Texas taxpayers for the cost of the state security detail that accompanies him.

"I've given it thought. And I will treat it just like Ann Richards and George Bush and other governors have treated it. The security comes with the territory. I wish I could tell you that governors don't need security, but they do," Perry said in his Capitol office. He sat for interviews with Texas media including the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News on Tuesday, the first he's done with Texas newspapers or television since leaving the presidential race Jan. 19.

Perry - who declared his job as governor is "24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year" - also said he'd favor doing away with the state constitutional provision that the lieutenant governor assume his duties when he's outside Texas.

"I'd do that in a heartbeat. I'd change the Constitution. You don't need to switch powers over," Perry said. "When the president of the United States leaves the country, he's still the president. The vice president doesn't go, 'All right everybody. I'm in charge now.' "

Amending the constitution would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and Texans' approval on a statewide ballot.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst - or the Senate president pro tem, when Dewhurst is out of the state at the same time as Perry - is allowed nearly $411 for every full day he subs for Perry. That added up to more than $32,000 last year.

Regarding security, the tab for travels by Perry or his wife, Anita, outside Texas totaled more than $1.1 million in the year after his November 2010 re-election, figures from the Texas Department of Public Safety show.

Much of that expense came after he announced for president in mid-August. Perry's direct travel costs are generally paid by his campaign, but the security detail is state-funded.

Perry said his national role is "good for Texas," noting that he loves to tell "the Texas story," highlighted by its strong jobs performance.

A poll conducted by Blum & Weprin Associates right after he left the presidential race found a combined 48 percent of registered voters said Perry's presidential run had made Texas' image either a little worse or a lot worse.

Since leaving the race, he's endorsed Newt Gingrich. Perry's spokesman has said he'll be at Wednesday's GOP presidential debate in Arizona in support of the former House speaker.

Perry said Gingrich has a chance at the nomination: "I don't think this thing is settled by any sense of the imagination. We've seen so many front-runners, and so many people up and down, and up and down. And it may go all the way to the convention."

Perry said he's also looking toward Texas' next regular legislative session, which begins in January. He cited as key issues school funding, water and energy, including concerns over sufficient electrical power reserves.

Perry left the door open to running for re-election in 2014 and trying again for president in 2016.

The Blum & Weprin poll found 56 percent of registered voters didn't think Perry should run for re-election.

Perry said he can take his time in deciding.

"We'll make that decision probably around the June 2013 time frame," he said. "Right now I'm focused on the next legislative session, and how to keep this great Texas story going."

pfikac@express-news.net