State rep asks Perry to pay back state for travel expenses

[sonias]

9. Bills for Perry's security detail mounting

SA Express News 1/26/12
Bills for Perry's security detail mounting

(snip)

“Gov. Perry is the governor of Texas 24/7, and the Department of Public Safety has a policy of providing security for governors and their families everywhere they travel, as they have back several administrations,” Havens said Thursday

Cal Jillson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, said Perry certainly could influence DPS policy.

Jillson said it would be reasonable for Perry to reimburse taxpayers from his campaign funds for security costs associated with his presidential run. He also noted that Perry's mantra has included an emphasis on smaller government.

“If you are for small government and low taxes and personal responsibility, you might not want to go so far as driving your own car,” Jillson said. “But if you stand for small government, and low taxes and personal responsibility, and then you have the manicured estate and the darkened SUV with the security detail, some of these things seem to be at odds with each other.”