New SlickRickPerry.com Section: “Life Of Luxury”
Records Show That Perry Has Billed Taxpayers Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars For Home And Travel
Austin, TX – Rick Perry’s election-year hypocrisy knows no bounds. Throughout his time in government, Rick Perry has billed taxpayers to travel the world for what have often amounted to little more than vacations. There was $12,000 billed to taxpayers for a bachelor party in Las Vegas and $32,000 in taxpayer funds spent to travel to political meetings in New York City. And in August 2009, Perry spent more than $70,000 in taxpayer money to travel to Israel. Since 2004, Texas taxpayers have been billed nearly $400,000 for Rick Perry’s travel. Rick Perry is living a life of luxury and cronyism at taxpayer expense.
Read the full record on our new SlickRickPerry.com section
Key Findings:
• Since 2004, Texas taxpayers have been billed nearly $400,000 for Rick Perry’s travel.
• Rick Perry often travels on the tabs of those who have business before state government.
• According to public records, Rick Perry has personally charged Texas taxpayers $109,785.64 for travel costs between September 1989 and July 2001.
• Taxpayers paid $1,300 for Rick Perry to enjoy spa therapeutic services, fine dining and limo service at a premier resort in West Virginia.
• While a state legislator, Rick Perry “billed the state more to fly aboard a private airplane than any other legislator.
• In 1993, Rick Perry was forced to reimburse taxpayersafter being caught in the act of improperly asking taxpayers to pay for travel on his personal airplane.
FACT: Rick Perry Diverts Taxpayer Funds To Vacations:
Since 2004, Texas taxpayers have been billed nearly $400,000 for Rick Perry’s travel. In October 2009, taxpayers were billed over $12,000 for Rick Perry to attend a bachelor party in Las Vegas and over $32,000 for him to attend political meetings in New York City. In August 2009, taxpayers were billed over $70,000 for Rick Perry to travel to Israel to accept an award from an oil and gas businessman who does business in Texas.
• Since 2004, Perry’s Travel Has Cost Texas Taxpayers At Least $374,589.73. (Peggy Fikac, “Perry's Travel Security Cost $250,000,” The Houston Chronicle, 8/8/07; (Christy Hoppe, “Rick Perry's Cost For Leaving Las Vegas,” The Dallas Morning News’ “Trail Blazers” Blog, http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com, 1/7/10; “Perry's Secret Jerusalem Trip Raises Questions,” CBS 11, cbs11tv.com, 10/29/09; Texas Department Of Public Safety, Public Information Request For Protective Services Bureau Records, 12/30/09)
• Perry Spent $12,321 In Taxpayer Funds Last Year So He Could Attend A Bachelor Party In Las Vegas. “Well almost everybody who's been there knows you leave a little money in Las Vegas, but they say you can come back and visit it anytime. Texas taxpayers left a little green there in October, as it turns out. Gov. Rick Perry's went to Vegas on Oct. 24 to attend a bachelor party dinner for his son - oh yes, and to also meet with Brian Sandoval, a Republican candidate for Nevada's governor. The cost for his security detail for the overnight trip - overtime, hotel, airfare, rental cars - was $12,321, according to documents just released by the Department of Public Safety.” (Christy Hoppe, “Rick Perry's Cost For Leaving Las Vegas,” The Dallas Morning News’ “Trail Blazers” Blog, http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com, 1/7/10)
• Perry Spent Over $70,000 In Taxpayer Funds Last Year On A Trip To Israel, Where He Stayed At A “Swanky” Hotel And Enjoyed An Evening At A “Scotch And Cigar Bar.” “In August, Perry was given the ‘Defender of Jerusalem’ award. So Perry and his wife flew first class to Israel at more than $5,000 per ticket. The governor's security detail of four Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers was also along for the trip. ... According to state documents, the taxpayers' bill just to take Perry's security officers on the 5-day trip was more than $70,000. The breakdown includes $17,000 for rooms at the swanky King David Hotel, nearly $13,000 for food and more than 350 hours of overtime. ... CBS 11 obtained private emails and found the organizer, Katsof, asked attendees what kind of scotch they preferred for a ‘scotch and cigar bar’ where they would admire ‘a starry Jerusalem.’” (“Perry's Secret Jerusalem Trip Raises Questions,” CBS 11, cbs11tv.com, 10/29/09)
• Perry Spent $32,840.66 In Taxpayers Funds Last Year On A Trip To New York, Where He Attended “Four Private Meetings With Campaign Donors.” “Perry's most recent out-of-state trips were to New York City, where he visited NASDAQ and held four private meetings with campaign donors, and to Las Vegas, where he met with Nevada Republican governor candidate Brian Sandoval.” (Kelley Shannon, “Perry Frequent Traveler In 2009,” The Associated Press, 11/14/09; Texas Department Of Public Safety, Public Information Request For Protective Services Bureau Records, 12/30/09)
• Between 2004 And August 2007, Rick Perry Took Nine Foreign Trips That Cost Taxpayers $259,428. “Foreign trips by Gov. Rick Perry and his wife have cost Texas more than $250,000 in security provided through his protective detail, according to figures obtained by the Houston Chronicle… The security cost for nine trips starting in 2004 was $259,428.07. Security for the 10th trip, to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006, was provided by the federal government, according to Perry's office.” (Peggy Fikac, “Perry's Travel Security Cost $250,000,” The Houston Chronicle, 8/8/07)
FACT: Rick Perry Often Travels On The Tabs Of Those Who Have Business Before State Government:
Throughout his time in government, Rick Perry has often traveled to exotic locations on the tab of those who have business before state government. In 2007, Rick Perry traveled to the Middle East on a trip paid for by businesses that had bills in front of the State Legislature. In 2008, Rick Perry was flown to Washington, D.C., by a businessman to hold a news conference promoting an ethanol waiver sought by the businessman. In 2009, two oil and gas investors flew Rick Perry on a private jet to a meeting of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission – a clear conflict of interest.
And it doesn’t stop there. Rick Perry has also given – on at least one occasion – a plum appointment to someone who paid for him to travel to Mexico. In August 2007, a refining executive paid for Rick Perry to travel to Mexico. Two months after the trip, Rick Perry appointed the executive to the University of Texas board of regents.
• In 2007, “Major Contributors” To TexasOne Funded Perry Trip To Dubai, Abu Dhabi And Qatar, Even As They Had Bills Affecting Their Business In Front Of The Legislature. “Gov. Rick Perry's trip to the Middle East, coming in the middle of a heated legislative session, is being funded by numerous corporations whose interests may be affected by bills passed or rejected by lawmakers. Perry, his wife, Anita, and two aides to the governor - communications director Eric Bearse and general counsel Brian Newby - left Tuesday and are to return Wednesday after visits to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Spokesman Robert Black said he didn't know yet how much the trip will cost but that it is being financed through TexasOne, a privately financed program controlled by the governor's office to bring more business to the state.” (Clay Robison and Janet Elliott, “Perry's Mideast trip paid by firms,” Houston Chronicle, 3/15/07)
• Perry’s Trip, Funded By TexasOne, Cost About $30,000. “Perry traveled to the Middle East in March, in the midst of the legislative session, for dedication ceremonies for a Texas A&M campus in Qatar and to encourage state business opportunities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The cost of that eight-day trip, about $30,000, was paid by TexasOne, a privately financed economic-development program.” (Peggy Fikac, “Perry Off To Prove Texas-Israel Relations,” San Antonio Express-News, 6/23/07)
• In 2008, Poultry Producer Bo Pilgrim Paid To Fly Perry To Washington, DC So Perry Could Attend A News Conference Promoting An Ethanol Waiver Sought By Pilgrim. “Poultry producer Lonnie ‘Bo’ Pilgrim spent more than $9,000 on airfare in June so Gov. Rick Perry could attend a news conference promoting a waiver from federal ethanol mandates that Pilgrim wants. Perry requested the waiver from the federal Environmental Protection Agency in April after meeting with Pilgrim in March.” (R.G. Ratcliffe, “Poultry King Paid For Perry's Airfare, Gave To Campaign,” Houston Chronicle, 7/16/08)
• In October 2009, S. Wil VanLoh And Toby Neugebauer, Executives In An Oil And Gas Investment Firm, Paid To Fly Perry To The Interstate Oil And Gas Compact Commission Meeting In Mississippi, Where Perry Was Named Chairman Of The Group. (Texas Ethics Commission Website, www.ethics.state.tx.us, Accessed 2/2/10; “Texas Governor Vows To Fight Cap-And-Trade Legislation,” San Antonio Business Journal, 10/5/09)
• The Trip Was Valued At $6,250. (Texas Ethics Commission Website, www.ethics.state.tx.us, Accessed 2/2/10)
• In August 2007, Paul Foster, Executive Chairman Of Refining Company Western Refining, Paid For And Accompanied Perry On Travel To Mexico On An Economic Development Trip. (2007 Calendar, Texans For Rick Perry January Semiannual Report 2008, Texas Ethics Commission Website, http://www.ethics.state.tx.us, Accessed 2/5/10; “Executive Officers,” Western Refining Website, http://ir.westernrefining.com/, Accessed 2/5/10; “Corporate Profile,” Western Refining Website, http://ir.westernrefining.com/, Accessed 2/5/10)
• The Trip Cost Foster $19,760. (Texans For Rick Perry January Semiannual Report 2008, Texas Ethics Commission Website, http://www.ethics.state.tx.us, Accessed 2/5/10)
• According To The Trip’s Agenda, Events Included Meetings With The Mexican Secretary Of Energy And Mexican President Felipe Calderon. (Governor Rick Perry’s Official 2007 Calendar, Public Information Request)
• In October 2007, Two Months After The Trip, Perry Appointed Foster To The University Of Texas System Board Of Regents. “Appointed to the University of Texas System Board of Regents for a term to expire February 1, 2013, Paul Foster of El Paso (replacing Cyndi Krier of San Antonio whose term expired).” (“The Governor,” Texas Registry Archive Website, http://texinfo.library.unt.edu/, 10/19/07)
FACT: As A Democrat State Legislature, Rick Perry “Billed The State More To Fly Aboard A Private Airplane Than Any Other Legislator”:
In 1987, it was reported that then-House Democrat Rick Perry “billed the state more to fly aboard a private airplane than any other legislator.” In total, Rick Perry charged $13,500 for his private travel that year. Click here to read the story.
FACT: In 1993, Rick Perry Was Forced To Pay Back Taxpayer Money He Was Improperly Reimbursed:
In 1993, Rick Perry was forced to reimburse taxpayers after being caught in the act of improperly asking taxpayers to pay for travel on his personal airplane. The headline is clear: “Official To Repay State For Flight Bill.” Click here to read the story.
