Being governor of Texas is good
On the dollars of taxpayers and wealthy donors, Gov. Rick Perry — reared amid the cotton fields of West Texas — gets to live the life of the rich and famous, traveling the world meeting captains of industry, sports stars and royalty.There is more.The taxpayers shell out $108,000 a year to rent him an estate west of Austin, and spend another $168,000 on chefs, stewards and housekeepers for the Perrys' creature comforts.
Piano maestro Van Cliburn once played at the Governor's Mansion for first lady Anita Perry's birthday. Dallas aerobics guru Dr. Kenneth Cooper once gave the governor free medical tests. Expensive gifts to Perry have included 16 pairs of custom-made boots, a pair of spurs, hunting trips, sports tickets and a football helmet signed by former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith.
The perks of being governor are not unusual across the nation, and in many states, governors like Perry are also de facto head of state business recruitment.
Wealthy donors and corporate-funded foundations, for example, have flown him to the Bahamas for scuba diving, to Paris, Rome and Dubai for business promotion and to San Diego, Calif., for the one-time Texas A&M yell leader to attend an Aggies Muster for expatriate A&M graduates.
There was a trip to Istanbul for the Bilderberg conference hosted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. A trip to the Middle East had on its schedule meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Jordan's King Abdullah and a “breathtaking sunset cruise on the Red Sea.”
Perry, elected in 2000, said in a recent interview with the Houston Chronicle that his only motivation as governor is to affect public policy: “This is not about me. It's not about whatever the people would perceive as the perks of being governor ... I get to go do a job every day that makes a difference in people's lives. I find that very satisfying.”
Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said the governor's amenities are like those of previous governors and others across the country.
“Texas is the tenth largest economy in the world. We're the number one exporting state. We have an economy that is an economic powerhouse,” Castle said. “Carrying that message to other countries, other leaders, business leaders, state leaders is an important mission.”
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That last quoted paragraph will probably be a theme of the Perry Campaign in 2010, and it is not bad. I think the success of Texas over the last nine years will be an issue in whether Perry gets to keep the perks of office.
When it comes to business recruitment, Texas is the home of more Fortune 500 companies than any other state. They come here because the taxes are low, energy is readily available and is relatively cheap and unions are not very strong. There is an educated workforce that is eager to work and Texas has created 80 percent of the jobs in the US over the last two years. Doctors are flocking here because tort reform has lowered the cost of doing business.
Texas politicians are fond of manly footwear described above as 16 pair of custom made boots. I really don't have any envy in me about those boots. I would rather wear some running or walking shoes that absorb the impact better anyway. I doubt Kay Hutchison is running to get free boots either.
You are fortunate to have a governor who is open about all the perks. At least he did find the finest pianist's around, Van Cliburn. I know you would not want what we in Illinois just got rid of as a governor. Texas is a great state and all you folks do things in a big way.
ReplyDeleteFrancine@manilowsuites.com