The Rick Perry Secret Slush Fund Junket

[white cloud]

Fort Worth's CBS 11 has uncovered the secrets behind the expensive trip to the Middle East taken by Governor Rick Perry last August. The story weaves together everything that is wrong about Perry's gubernatorial regime: excessive personal spending during an $18 Billion budget shortfall, abuse of taxpayer dollars to cover security travel costs, insider business deals that imperil regulation and oversight, and cronyism with the special interests that put profits of the few above the good of all Texans.
Watch the video. It's a must-see:
>>>>>>>
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/10455/the-rick-perry-secret-slush-fund-junket

[sonias]

1. Awesome!

Finally some lame stream media doing real reporting. Perry is always doing some kind of business junket on government funded trips and he has the gall to accuse White of profiting off Katrina, when White was just making sure emergency generators where available to the city.

All of it was "secret". Secret police, secret locations, secret budget. 1st class trips on the taxpayer's dime.

Perry is the very model example of corruption for his own private use.

Kudos to CBS 11!

:applause:

:kick:

[tammywammy]

2. That was a great clip!!!

[sonias]

3. Wish it was getting more coverage

Notice that all the major urban newspapers are silent - not a peep from them. :(

[white cloud]

4. China?

any news on China.
Bet he went to China for Chinese wind generator and toll booths.

[sonias]

5. That's the problem - you won't see those expense reports for months

But if we had a real media to take him to task, one of them might just ask him right now - who paid for the trip and what did it cost?

Even when we get some of those reports, a lot of it will be kept secret just like the Israel junket. Because Perry and his R minions at the Lege made sure that DPS expense reports (Perry's protection) were kept secret. Maybe I get that in advance, but after the fact is total bullshit. The taxpayers deserve to know how much Perry is using/expensing in protection for his round the world trips. And to what benefit? What companies are going to start a branch here or create jobs here? The Chinese - are we kidding?

[sonias]

6. Here's one report

San Antonio Express News 6/12/10
Business kicks in as Perry heads to China

AUSTIN — While many Texans may curtail travel in these tough economic times, Gov. Rick Perry is headed out of the country again — this time to China, on a mission to boost economic development.

The trip, however, is also a family affair, and its corporate funding raises questions among some watchdog groups even as business interests tout its value.

(snip)
The state pays for Perry's security, but other expenses for him and his wife will be covered by a nonprofit program called TexasOne, which gets funding from corporations, organizations and individuals.

(snip)
TexasOne supporters include a top tier of givers who contribute $50,000 annually over three years. Among them are Associated General Contractors, CenterPoint Energy, ExxonMobil, McLane Group, Greater Houston Partnership, AT&T and Shell. The latter three are among those set to go on the China trip, along with other business and civic entities and state leaders including Comptroller Susan Combs and Secretary of State Hope Andrade.

"Those members of TexasOne consistently want favors from Texas government and the governor's office," said Craig McDonald of Texans for Public Justice. "When those corporations send Perry and his family on a sweet vacation to China, it raises conflict-of-interest questions."

No question who owns Perry. Just saying he's had lots of practice delivering for them.

[sonias]

7. TexasOne

Let's start a new sub-thread on the TexasOne program which is essentially run out of the Governor's office. Just so we understand how this slight of hand, shell game, works in plain sight.

Here is the web site for the "non-profit" program:
http://www.texasone.us

Here is the real example of business shakedown in reality. The play to play part
How to Join TexasOne web page. It's going to cost you $50K for 3 year membership, if you want to be a real player and get the Governor's ear. Oh you can pay a measly $1K a year and get invited out to a board meeting and lunch. :eyes:

Member Listings:
www.texasone.us/member-listing.html
Reads like the Whose Who of corporate welfare
ExxonMobil
Shell
CapitalOne
AT&T
Verizon
:puke:

So you see, the Governor's office sets up a program that supposedly has a mission of promoting Texas to the world while creating jobs right here in Texas. Hence all the travel around that world is required. Natch! Plus all your meetings are super secret.

Then he shakes down corporations to fork over huge amounts of money each year so that he can say to the press that these trips are not paid for by taxpayer money. And by setting up a non-profit which makes the junkets look so much more "charitable".

The bottom line however is that Perry is selling access to himself. If you want something from Perry - some piece of legislation that is going to make your business/industry millions - you have to pay to play. It's as simple as that.