I read Gov. Perry asked Behmberg to resign and the slot would be filled with the Ass’t. DA. Behmberg wouldn’t leave. I don’t know if he then told he’d veto the money or
if he waited until the funding was placed on his desk for approval.
snip
“Despite the otherwise good work the Public Integrity Unit’s employees, I cannot
in good conscience support continued State funding for an office with statewide
jurisdiction at a time when the person charged with ultimate responsibility of
that unit has lost the public’s confidence. This unit is in no other way held
accountable to state taxpayers, except through the State budgetary process. I
therefore object to and disapprove of this appropriation.”
Earlier this week there were reports that Governor Perry threatened to veto
funding for the Public Integrity Unit, unless Travis County District Attorney
Rosemary Lehmberg stepped down.
The same day he stripped the units funding a complaint was filed against him
alleging Perry may have broken the law.
Craig McDonald, the director of Texans for Public Justice, who filed the complaint
with the Travis County Attorney’s Office said, “It has come to my attention that
Governor Rick Perry has potentially committed one or more criminal offenses
related to his recent threat to use his official powers to provide or withhold
money in a manner intended to allow him to gain the benefit of appointing
a new Travis County District Attorney.”