Rick Perry Used Taxpayer Money To Subsidize Family Vacations...

[rasputin1952]

During the last slash-and-burn legislative session, presidential contender and Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) approved draconian budget cuts for everything from education to Medicare. But one area where he didn’t mind being extravagant with taxpayer money was financing family vacations, tours to promote his book, and campaign events.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Perry used at least $294,000 of Texas taxpayers’ money for numerous personal trips, and has no plans to reimburse the state:

<snip>

Perry’s campaign pays for the travel costs, but the tab for his security detail is picked up by the state. Perry’s flimsy excuse for using taxpayer funds to finance these trips: “I’m going to be promoting Texas no matter where I go.” The idea that his wife was traveling in Europe to promote “economic development” in Texas is laughable.

<snip>

During his tenure, Perry has doubled Texas’ debt and used budget gimmicks to close the state’s enormous $27 billion deficit. Perry and GOP lawmakers refused to raise taxes on the wealthy while they cut billions from public education, women’s health centers, and shortchanged Medicaid by nearly $14 billion — all while spending taxpayer dollars for trips to Europe.

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/668888/rick_perry_used_taxpayer_money_to_subsidize_family_vacations%2C_presidential_campaign_events/#paragraph3


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I've said that Perry won't last past the end of September...if this has legs, he might not last out the week...:D

[bluestateguy]

1. Memories of the Bush years: "this has legs!!!"

Then again, it only took until 2005 for people to finally wake up to what Bush was all about.

[BadgerKid]

2. $294k because $5k just won't cut it. n/t

[rasputin1952]

4. Hard to believe this jerk has presidential asperations...

like I've said before, just being from TX brings back memories of bush and the disaster he brought.

The gov of TX has the least power of any governor, years ago, the selling of pardons out of the back door forced the lege to reign in power to the point where being the gov of TX is akin to being little more than a ceremonial posting. Still, there is the means to burn the taxpayers of the state.

[muntrv]

3. Hey Ricky! Honk if my taxes support your whiney teabaggin' ass!

[LynneSin]

5. Bet that money could have been real useful for the Texas Volunteer Firefighters

who saw their funds cut by 75% by this dumbass

[HappyMe]

10. Yup. I bet there is more

fucking around with the funds where this came from.


The republiCONS got nothing but crazies and thieves.

[trueblue2007]

6. HE IS A CROOK ..... PUT HIM IN JAIL... NOW. and for the heck of it... castrate him !!!!!

[brettdale]

7. I Guess

That wont make faux news.

[rasputin1952]

8. LOL...

they'd fawn over the fact he, "properly used state funds and should have used more"...:eyes:

[SpiralHawk]

9. Republicon Family Ripoff Values

as usual

[WinkyDink]

11. This has GOT to be a game-changer. It is a CRIME, FGS!

[tanyev]

12. He's going to outdo Paylin at this rate.

[L. Coyote]

13. Actually, if we just called him "Bush's Lt. Governor" he wouldn't last a day!

Perry has done a brilliant job of hiding his role with Toxic Bush in Texas.

[SpiralHawk]

14. The Rickster (R) and his RepubliCon Socialism (Me, Me, Me)

is a master of Republicon Family Ripoff Values...

Got his greazy Republicon fingers in the public till -- while tossing Granny and Gramps under the freaking Republicon Profiteering Bus of FatCat Socialism.