Gov Rick Perry (R) Texas spends $11 million Federal Stimulus on the Governors Mansion.

[TWiley]

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.

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

[snot]

1. If he wants to impress me, how 'bout limiting it to $500,000? (n.t.)

[NMDemDist2]

2. it's a 'shovel ready' project I'm sure

sigh

[rpannier]

3. 9,900 a month in rent. That's almost 120k a year

They should just bulldoze the mansion and buy a new house.
Bet they could get a new place for under a million and get a good amount of money for the land where the old mansion sits.

[jobycom]

5. One thing better abou Austin than other parts of the state is the respect for history.

That's the house of Ann Richards and Ma Ferguson and a lot of good (and bad) Democrats. They owe it to future generations to rebuild it, despite the filth who calls itself governor now.

[Aragorn]

8. yes, but

not for $20 million. And not with stimulus money. If this story is true it is another example of Tx lege making its own rules.

[jobycom]

17. I'd rather have the Mansion than the money.

They'd just spend it on Bibles or some Rick Perry Piss On the Poor Program otherwise.

[WolverineDG]

25. "Buy a new house" In Austin? For $120k???

:spray: :rofl:

dg

[rpannier]

28. The rent is 120K a year. Not the price of the house

[TWiley]

4. The mansion was burned in an arson fire ..... interesting.

Now, didn't the governor have fire insurance?

[WolverineDG]

6. Nope, his prized Rangers & DPS troopers were AWOL

left the mansion vulnerable to an opportunistic crime. Of course, that didn't stop them from speculating that the FLDS did it (they didn't). They later arrested a couple of UT students, claiming they were anarchists.

dg

[TWiley]

20. did the students cite a motive, or was it just somethin to do?

[WolverineDG]

23. I haven't heard much about the case since

but what was reported in the media is that they were "anarchists" or something. I believe the young men have pled not guilty & so are awaiting trial.

dg

[geckosfeet]

7. Yeah. This a$$hat will secede - when pigs fly. He likes government money too much to secede.

[chalky]

13. He can get the hell out of my country, but I'll be DAMNED if he takes

my state with him when the doorknob hits him in the ass.

[elizfeelinggreat]

14. : smooch :

I don't consider Texas "my state" but my home is here now and I'll stand with you all the way :)

[msongs]

9. why not build a new design that is energy independent and futurisitc - for less nt

[blogslut]

11. It's also possible that the existing structure could be brought up to LEED standards.

Sustainability also entails not tearing things down. 60% of the waste in the US comes from new construction.

[blogslut]

10. This does not bother me

The governor's mansion is an historical landmark. It stood before Perry and hopefully will stand long after he's gone. As long as the rest of the $11 billion is spent on infrastructure, teacher pay, unemployment, social programs, etc...

Although, I have to wonder if part of this has to do with Goodhair's feeling butthurt because the legislature stripped him of 96% of his two-year office operating funds:

link - http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/041909dntexhousebudget.e4ed7a0a.html

[tammywammy]

12. Yeah, actually it doesn't bother me either

It'll create construction jobs. And the mansion being destroyed in that fire was just horrible. It is a historical site, regardless of whom currently occupies the governorship.

[elizfeelinggreat]

15. Take the aid but abandon expose the hypocrite

[anonymous171]

16. No wonder someone tried to burn it down. The guy is an asshole. nt

[earthworship]

18. Typical Republican

didn't sarah palin do that too?

[Lisa0825]

19. As a Texan, the fire really saddened me.

I was in Austin at the time for the state Democratic Convention, and I heard the sirens, only to learn later what the emergency was. The Governor's mansion is not about Rick Perry. It is as much about Ann Richards as it is about him. It's about history, and it does indeed need to be restored.

[WolverineDG]

24. The Governor's Mansion belongs to the State of Texas not Rick Perry nt

[TWiley]

21. oh no ! It might create a job. Criticize the program instead.

[NoPasaran]

22. This is a great use of stimulus money

It's going to fund jobs while restoring an important historical structure.

The Governor's Mansion was built in the 1850's. Ann Richards? Geez, Sam Houston lived in that house!

[peekaloo]

26. How many cabana boys are being paid for by the state?

}(

[TWiley]

27. I think Republicans like pages. Butt, stimulus is for jobs right?

[spanone]

29. no offense texans, but ya'all can sure pick 'em down there

just like us here in tennessee :hi: