Sunday, March 15, 2009

Perry receives award in DC, but we didn't find out until the next day?!?

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on today that:

Without publicly announcing it, Gov. Rick Perry took a taxpayer-funded trip to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to receive an award from the American Medical Association and hold a breakfast for the Texas congressional delegation the next day.

U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, said most Texas House members attended and listened to Perry talk about the stimulus, troops on the border and toll roads. Reporters were not invited to the "closed" meeting. Texas’ senators, including Perry’s likely GOP gubernatorial rival, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, weren’t there, either.

Perry’s news release announcing the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, for Perry’s work to cap medical malpractice awards, was issued the day after he received it. The release is datelined Austin and does not mention that the event was held in Washington.

That's odd. If I were receiving an award, I'd want everyone to know about it, especially if I am the Governor from the great State of Texas. A quick scan of @GovernorPerry on Twitter shows the following three related tweets:

Flew into Washington tonight for the American Medical Association's Nathan Davis Awards. About 30 degrees warmer outside right now in Texas.

Just left Texas Medical Association reception here in Washington. They nominated me for the AMA's Nathan Davis award I received last night.

Very grateful for TMA’s support and confidence. Humbled by the award. Leaving DC for God's Country!!


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