Stimulus funds to repair Texas Governor's Mansion

[tj2001]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/ap_on_re_us/us_governor_s_mansion_texas

AUSTIN, Texas – While Gov. Rick Perry is criticizing Washington bailouts, state lawmakers are planning to use $11 million in federal stimulus money to help rebuild the badly burned Texas Governor's Mansion. Approximately $10 million in state tax money will also be spent on a renovation, which is expected to cost about $20 million, officials said Thursday. A House-Senate committee agreed on the expenditures late Wednesday night. The mansion was burned in an arson fire last summer.

Perry has railed against federal bailouts and what he called the free-spending, power-hungry ways of Washington. In January, he said Texas was endangered by Uncle Sam's "audacity." Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle released a short, written statement late Thursday when asked about using stimulus money to renovate the mansion. "We are continuing to work with lawmakers on the budget," she said.

The $11 million for renovations would come out of the $700 million rescue package for Texas, lawmakers said. "If we're going to fix it up we're going to have to use stimulus money," said state Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan. "We've made a decision to use the stimulus money. This is a good use of it." The governor has been living in a three-story, limestone home with a heated pool, an outdoor cabana and a guest house.

The state is paying some $9,900-a-month in rent while the Governor's Mansion undergoes renovations, records show.

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Meanwhile:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-perryquote_20tex.ART.State.Edition2.49f5e7e.html

AUSTIN – A group of Kay Bailey Hutchison supporters is demanding an apology from Rick Perry, saying his top political strategist insulted her by invoking the imagery of a brothel. In a letter to the Republican governor Tuesday, the Hutchison supporters said remarks by political adviser Dave Carney denigrate women and have no place in their coming campaign.

"Not only do his words do a disservice to our efforts to provide conservative leadership, they denigrate the accomplishments of women everywhere," said the letter, signed by seven longtime Texas GOP activists.

At issue was a story published Saturday in The Dallas Morning News in which Carney said the GOP should avoid becoming too moderate. Carney said the Republican Party should welcome new voters. But, he added, "that doesn't mean you take your principles and throw them out the door and become a whorehouse and let anybody in who wants to come in, regardless."

[bluestateguy]

1. If it creates jobs, then I'm OK with that

nt

[tj2001]

3. $11 million for his mansion, $0 for unemployment benefits

The unemployment money is only 3 percent of the $17 billion in federal stimulus money earmarked for Texas

[Ishoutandscream2]

2. Rick Perry can go to hell!!

The sooner he is out of office, the better.

[ejpoeta]

4. well, why not use federal money to fix up the mansion before texas secedes.

uggh. what is wrong with people that they don't get outraged at this kind of thing!!

[Historic NY]

5. A few gallons of gas could finish the job.