Rick Perry Rental Mansion Costs Texas $600,000 Amid $11B Budget Shortfall

[Joanne98]

AUSTIN, Texas — With the state facing a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has spent almost $600,000 in public money during the past two years to live in a sprawling rental home in the hills above the capital, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.

It costs more than $10,000 a month in rent, utilities and upkeep to house Perry in a five-bedroom, seven-bath mansion that has pecan-wood floors, a gourmet kitchen and three dining rooms. Perry has also spent $130,000 in campaign donations to throw parties, buy food and drink, and pay for cable TV and a host of other services since he moved in, the records show.

The public spending on Perry's rental comes as the state grapples with a budget shortfall forecast to reach at least $11 billion over the next two years. Perry has asked state agencies to cut their budgets by 5 percent and the Republican House speaker has begun to consider furloughs and shortened workweeks for state employees.

Ethics watchdogs, meanwhile, say Perry's campaign may have violated state disclosure laws because of the vague way he's reported what his staff calls "incidental" spending at the mansion.

"Anybody who is not offended probably doesn't know what's going on," said Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco, the Texas House Democratic leader. To spend so much while asking state agencies to spend less, Dunnam said, is "just rank hypocrisy."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/17/rick-perry-rental-mansion_n_578311.html

[Guilded Lilly]

1. Arrogant Thug

I just read this on Yahoo and came to make sure someone had posted it here!

Thank-you Joanne98

First off, I have not been a fan if this wretched official for a long time, so it doesn't take much for me to dislike him further. Even with my history of anti-Mulch Making Gun Toting Arrogant Ass Perry, this is beyond contemptuous, even for one of the big-headed Texan Bs'rs. (YES, there are lovely and wonderful people in Texas, including my cousins, but this knob isn't even close to being anything but a total skuzzy creep).

And anyone who doesn't become annoyed at this could be classified in that wretched category as well.

Cutting state employees hours while arrogantly rolling in ridiculously luxurious living style ( no matter how transparent) smacks of his aspirations to be King of the New Country of Texas.

[kjackson227]

2. Help defeat Perry, and donate here...

http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/

Thank You!

[Donnachaidh]

3. Entitlements -- these politicians think they are royalty

This situation should be dug into and aired out. Turn the lights on the cockroaches....

[DatManFromNawlins]

4. This is a non-issue

Virtually every state in the union gives the Governor a multi-million dollar residence to reside in, and Texas happens to have a vastly lavish Governor's mansion which is currently undergoing renovations due to arson. It might make for good press in the national media, but in Texas, it's viewed as grasping at straws.