Gov. Greg Abbott has traveled frequently – and to enough posh places in the U.S. and abroad – to drive the state-paid expenses for his security detail in his...
Though Abbott is tightlipped about his travel, DPS summaries provide a retrospective look at his jaunts.
Through May, the costs were running about even with those at the same point in the Republican’s first term – $1.36 million. If the final 7 ½ months of Abbott’s second term shape up the same way a similar period in 2018-2019 did, the detail’s entire-term expenses will be $1.59 million – only a few hundred dollars more than the first’s.
“It’s not that there are no examples of assassination attempts or assaults,” he said. “But the idea of multi-person, dedicated security details is quite likely more than is actually needed.” Abbott’s direct travel expenses typically are covered by means outside of state taxpayer money, such as his campaign, an economic development entity or himself. But the security detail is funded by taxpayers through DPS. It reports quarterly, by month. Under a 2011 law, DPS does not include salaries or overtime and does not have to detail the purpose or specific dates of a trip. The total includes travel, fuel, food, lodging and a category called “other.
Perry had his campaign pay for the travel costs of his staff members who went on the trip. Together, Houston businessmen Charles Tate and John Nau III and San Antonio school voucher advocate James Leininger sprang for $40,400 to help Perry, his wife Anita and others hold the parley in the Abaco Islands. It drew fire as special access for big donors.
In January, for instance, DPS’ lodging cost for a trip to Beverly Hills, Calif., was $28,013 – or 63% of the detail’s total tab of $44,500. Last December, in Scottsdale, Ariz., lodging was even more – $32,479, though that was just 59% of the total security detail cost of $55,150.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Governor Greg Abbott discusses key topics of abortion, immigration in exclusive ABC13 interviewThe Texas governor speaks candidly on why he is busing migrants and what legislation he expects to be written in response to one of the nation's strictest abortion laws on Sunday.
Read more »
Director Richard Linklater Makes Video Series to Vote Out Texas Governor Greg AbbottDirector Richard Linklater collaborated with Mothers Against Greg Abbott to create a series of videos explaining why Texas should vote Abbott out.
Read more »
Greg Abbott, asked about abortion rape exceptions, states his prioritiesThe Texas governor told ABC13, 'there's going to be some laws that will be proposed, that will make sure we're doing more to protect the life of the mother.'
Read more »
Texas’ Greg Abbott won’t follow Biden's call to forgive marijuana offendersTexas Gov. Greg Abbott says he won't consider pardons for low-level marijuana offenders despite Biden's call for governors to do so.
Read more »
Problems Just Keep Mounting for Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone StarIt’s become routine: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott takes to Twitter to boast about Operation Lone Star, and his team fires off press releases celebrating the controversial border clampdown. Meanwhile, the problems keep mounting.
Read more »