Travel security tab now $2.6 million for Perry

Gov. Rick Perry's campaign bus, followed by members of the media, travels in Iowa during the 2012 presidential race. Gov. Rick Perry's campaign bus, followed by members of the media, travels in Iowa during the 2012 presidential race. Photo: Express-News File Photo Photo: Express-News File Photo Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close Travel security tab now $2.6 million for Perry 1 / 50 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — As he mulls the idea of another presidential race, the cost of Gov. Rick Perry's security detail on out-of-state trips has already cost taxpayers more than $2.6 million since his re-election.

Much of that total — $1.8 million — was racked up in August 2011 through January 2012, when he traveled the country during his race for the White House.

Perry has rejected calls that he pay the security costs.

In the regular legislative session, a San Antonio lawmaker said Perry summoned him to his office with concerns over his bill to require state officeholders to reimburse taxpayers for security for trips that aren't official state business. The bill died.

“Gov. Perry is the governor of Texas 24/7 regardless of where he goes, and the Texas Department of Public Safety has a policy of providing security for governors and their families everywhere they travel, as they have back several administrations,” Perry spokesman Josh Havens said by e-mail.

Rep. Lyle Larson, the San Antonio Republican who sought to rein in the security cost to taxpayers for political trips, said he told Perry during their discussion that the issue could haunt him.

“More and more folks are going to focus on how much we're spending in the event that he makes the decision over the next year and a half to travel extensively to other states, whether it's Iowa or New Hampshire or some of the primary states that people are going to be focused on,” Larson said.

“This very well could become an issue if he decides to run for president in 2016,” Larson said. “We can talk about a conservative approach to governance, but when we're spending taxpayer money for political activities, it just doesn't bode well on the campaign trail.”

Perry has told the Washington Times he is headed to Israel in October.

The newspaper reported many analysts interpreted that as evidence he is “setting the table” for another presidential bid.

The Texas Department of Public Safety compiles the cost of Perry's security detail on a quarterly basis.

The latest report includes expenses through May. Besides costs for the quarter, it includes expenses from earlier trips for which bills have come in.

The total for the report is $137,884, including $126,982 for out-of-state trips. That includes such expenses as travel, fuel, food and lodging.

Those trips include travel to California, where Perry has sought to attract business to Texas; Palm Beach, where he appeared with Florida Gov. Rick Scott at a forum; and Washington, D.C. Perry spoke at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, near Washington in March.

The report also includes February security expenses for a trip to Tennessee. Perry in February tweeted a photo of himself with Clay Walker, saying, “Watching A&M v Vanderbilt game with country Superstar Clay Walker. Fine hospitality in TN.”

Perry's direct travel costs generally are covered by his campaign or other means, not by taxpayers. The cost of his security detail is picked up by taxpayers, as it has been for previous governors.