Who pays for Goodhair to crisscross the country (& Bahamas, scuba & golf gear)?!1 [View All]

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http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/who-pays-for-rick-perry-to-crisscross-the-country/

Who Pays for Rick Perry to Crisscross the Country?

by Thanh Tan

Gov. Rick Perry has been burning up the miles since he won re-election last year. He is on track to have made nearly 50 stops in 21 states by November. ....

The specific costs of those services (security detail, by TDPS) are confidential. The Tribune's request for that information is pending review. In the past, though, the DPS has released total figures but has withheld itemized expenses, citing security concerns. The Texas Supreme Court recently sided with the department and ruled that the records should remain sealed.

The Texas Legislature added another layer of secrecy to the process when it passed a new law this year that will conceal peace officers’ travel vouchers for 18 months. The rule takes effect Sept. 28, which means the public could eventually learn about security expenses, but only for trips made after that date. All previous records can remain confidential. Though the department will file quarterly reports, it is required to report only lump sums, not detailed line-item travel expenditures. ....

His definition of frugal, however, may differ from the average Texan’s. Perry’s journeys around the country and the world have come under scrutiny in the past. Critics like Keith Elkins, the executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, said the few records that had been released to the public included rentals for a golf cart and scuba gear during a trip Perry made to the Bahamas. ....

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