Posted on 09/26/2009 11:45:28 AM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
Gov. Rick Perry never had much money growing up, and he has spent most of his adult life in public office, drawing a part-time salary as a legislator and relatively modest earnings in statewide office for the last quarter century.
But thanks to his investments and a series of private land deals, some that took advantage of his political connections, Perry has squeaked over the millionaire line, records examined by The Associated Press show.
Perry's Democratic opponents have suggested that Perry traded on his power and influence to turn a buck. Now that he is in a tough primary for a third full term, Perry's Republican opponent, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, is raising the same accusations.
"Rick Perry should do an infomercial on how to become a millionaire as a professional politician," said Hutchison campaign manager Terry Sullivan. "From abusing his power over appointments to getting sweetheart real estate deals from supporters, he's a regular get-rich-quick icon."
Perry aides say the governor has benefited from nothing more than strong business acumen and good timing. He has also lost some dough along the way, most notably last year, when a trust fund he owns took a huge hit during the Wall Street meltdown and shed more than a half million dollars in short and long-term losses, tax records show. Aides note that he has one home and is putting a kid through college, like many Texans.
The West Texas ranch boy won a state House seat in 1984 and has never yet lost an election. A former Texas A&M yell leader and Air Force pilot, Perry was elected agriculture commissioner in 1990 and then lieutenant governor in 1998. He took over as governor in 2000 when Gov. George W. Bush became president, and finishing his second term has gone on to
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Before you start throwing rocks at Perry- look long and hard at every land deal done in Southern Nevada...Dirty Harry is behind/part of/benefited from all of them.
I don’t begrudge anyone making money. In fact if it was over a number of years all the power to him. And as for making money on land deals, your dog could have done the same thing during the so called real estate boom.
I work in land sales, and Texas is still doing better than most states. Buying and selling raw land is different than homes too.
I’m not throwing rocks at Perry. I plan to vote for him. I’m taking a serious look at Debra Medina though too. But if it doesn’t look like she can pull it off, I won’t waste my primary vote and risk giving KBH the nomination. I cannot stand KBH.
Just FYI - I promised the txgov2010 ping list that I’d post articles about the governor’s race whether positive or negative about all candidates.
Yep. It’s gonna get muddy. Kay better put on her big girl panties.
It’s only wrong when a Republican makes money, donchaknow?
His hair does look good all the time, doesn't it? I wonder what products he uses. He should copyright "Governor Good Hair", in case he ever wants to market a line of hair care products. I'm sure it would be a bigger hit than a product called "Plugs Biden's Hair Care Products".
Did ya notice how corrupt government has become at all levels?
What a coincidence huh?
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