Rick Perry’s security costs have risen since he entered the presidential campaign in August, costing Texas taxpayers as much as $400,000 a month, according to a report by the Texas Tribune. An examination of Texas public safety department records found that the agency spent more than $1.4 million on out-of-state trips between September to mid-December, including more than $397,000 between Sept. 5 and Sept. 28 this year.
According to the Texas Tribune, this amount included “$161,786 for airfare, $8,140 for baggage fees, $50,648.84 for food, $6,442.24 for fuel, $112,111.81 for lodging, $54,356.65 for rentals, $2,990.26 for parking and $1,238.57 in an unspecified “other” category.”
In 2011, the Texas public safety department spent $1.1 million for the entire fiscal year on out-of-state security costs.
The Texas Tribune noted George W. Bush amassed a hefty tab for Texas taxpayers when he ran for president in 2000 while he sat as the governor of Texas. The state spent at least $400,000 per month in the first quarter of the year when he ran for president in 2000, and Texas taxpayers paid $3.9 million for his security costs between January 1999 and March 2000 when Secret Service took over security detail.
Perry is the only candidate, other than President Obama, whose security is funded by taxpayers.
Poster Comment:
Some comments posted at the article site:
"ALL candidates for the presidency are offered security protection"
"Seems to me his campaign fund should be covering those costs, not the tax payers. He’s not traveling on State business."
"Rick Perry’s campaign should be paying for any travel and security outside the normal scope of his duties as the Governor of Texas. He chose to get into the presidential race, we did not put him up to it. Why should we have to pay."