Democrat White Challenges Gov. On Border Security

By BJ Austin, KERA News

Dallas, TX – Campaigns are revving up with the "Labor Day" start of the political season. At an appearance in Austin today, Governor Perry addressed the sacrifices of first responders. In Dallas, Democratic challenger Bill White addressed border security and Governor Perry. KERA's BJ Austin reports.

Democrat Bill White says he has a plan for border security, and will pay for it with federal grants, state funds, plus additional drug forfeiture money. The plan includes one thousand more local police officers and sheriff deputies, plus 250 new state troopers along the border. And it would cost 75 to 95 million dollars a year.

White: Rick Perry said last week he didn't know how we could pay for this program. That's one tenth of one percent of the annual state budget. He can't figure out how to do that in order to fund one of the highest priorities of the state, that's another reason we need a new governor in this state.

Catherine Frazier, with the Perry Campaign, says White's plan borrows from Governor Perry's border initiatives - which have already put much needed resources in the region.

Frazier: The Governor has put forth about 250 million in state resources since 2005 to get the necessary boots on the ground to secure our border.

Bill White also claims that Governor Perry has directed less than 10% of Homeland Security grant funding to border regions each year. Frazier says that money comes with instructions from the federal government on how it is to be spent, and the Governor has explained that to elected officials along the border.

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