Texas Democrats offer Perry housing for $1 a Month!

[blogslut]

Lest the Texas Republicans steal all the headlines this weekend, the Democrats had their own little show near the Dallas Convention Center on Friday afternoon. Parked outside Eddie Deen's Ranch on South Lamar Street was a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom green-and-white mobile home that the Texas AFL-CIO is generously offering Governor Rick Perry for $1 a month.

It's the same home they offered to Perry in Austin last month, minus the furniture, issues of Food and Wine magazine, a supply of hair spray, and a 50-year-old stuffed German shepherd "that has sentimental value to me," said the group's president Becky Moeller. Those were tossed out to make the home easier to transport here and later to drive to Corpus Christi for the Texas Democratic Party convention at the end of June.

"Some have described our offer as a 'political stunt'" said Moeller, reading from a page-and-a-half statement provided to reporters. "We have used what may be a colorful tactic to make a very serious point" - the point being the whopping $10,000 taxpayer dollars a month that are going towards housing Perry while the governor's mansion gets repaired.

Speaking of political stunts, the Democrats also used the opportunity to address Texas' budget deficit as "the elephant in the room" - literally. A giant inflatable elephant labeled "RICK PERRY'S $18 BILLION BUDGET DEFICIT" stood next to the podium and promptly fell on its side at the start of the press conference. "It's a sign!" shrieked a staff member...

link to story: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/06/dems-get-into-the-act-with-a-t.html

note: The trailer image is from May, when the AFL-CIO & TX Democrats first made introduced the offer. That story is here: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/labor-leaders-offer-perry-downtown-abode-for-a-698331.html

:rofl:

[hobbit709]

1. I love it.

That should follow him everywhere he goes.

[white cloud]

2. Great picture

We just need to Evict Perry since they have been asleep at the wheel.

[NoPasaran]

3. I'm sorry y'all but this is lame

Do we seriously suggest that the governor of the state should live in a trailer?

No wonder Perry is Governor For Life.

[blogslut]

4. Of course they're not serious

They're making a point that Perry's temporary housing costs the state $10,000 a month. What's more:

His 6,386-square-foot rental sits on more than three acres and was advertised in 2007 for sale at $1.85 million. Perry's state-paid expenses at the home include $18,000 for "consumables" such as household supplies and cleaning products, $1,001.46 in window coverings from upscale retailer Neiman Marcus, a $1,000 "emergency repair" of the governor's filtered ice machine, a $700 clothes rack, and a little over $70 for a two year subscription to Food & Wine Magazine.

Maintenance on the heated pool has cost taxpayers at least $8,400, and the tab for grounds and lawn maintenance has topped $44,000, the records show. All told, taxpayers have spent at least $592,000 for rent, utilities, repairs, furnishings and supplies since Perry moved in.

By comparison, the Texas governor's mansion is wholly owned by the state - there is no rent or mortgage to pay. As currently configured, it has about 9,900 total square feet, but most is public space packed with historic artifacts. Only 2,750 square feet is dedicated to the governor's residence.

link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/051810dntexperry.111239fa.html

[Melissa G]

5. I'm remembering the Gov of some other state recently did...

Ah yes, here it is! It was our neighbor Arkansas Governor Huckabee

He got his family a mobile mansion. http://littlerock.about.com/cs/government/a/redneckgov.htm

[white cloud]

6. Look at the defecit.........I think he should feel guilty

Sleeping under a public TXDOT bridge.
Maybe Spain should lease him a Toll Booth.