Texas governor rewards some donors

AUSTIN, Texas, May 4 (UPI) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry says his appointments haven't been influenced by nearly $5 million in campaign money he's gotten from people he named to key jobs.

Nearly half the money came from people Perry later named as higher education regents, including more than $840,000 from regents within the University of Texas System, a review of campaign finance documents published Monday by the Houston Chronicle revealed.

Political patronage is a legal and common practice in Texas, though it doesn't bode well for government, said Andrew Wheat, a spokesman for the watchdog group Texans for Public Justice.

"The reason people should care is that it would be nice to think that government functioned as a meritocracy," Wheat said.

Perry has rejected the idea that he considers donations in making appointments and, in fact, has appointed many non-donors, said Mark Miller, his spokesman.

The $5 million represents a fraction of the more than $60 million Perry has raised since becoming governor in 2000, Miller said.