If the Texas House of Congress liked their Governor, Rick Perry, any more, they’d take away his dental plan, 401k, parking space, and Lone Star state belt buckle, too.

The Texas House Friday voted to drain most of GOP Gov. Rick Perry’s office budget and instead spend the money on community mental health crisis services and veterans’ services.

The move, which came during House debate on a $178.4 billion proposal for the two-year period starting Sept. 1, immediately drew a reference to Perry’s recent comments about Texas’ ability to secede from the union. The comments have drawn national attention and some lawmakers’ ire.

“Two days after the governor threatens secession, the House zeroes out his budget,” said Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, House Appropriations Committee vice chairman.

Perry has said he raised the idea of secession but didn’t advocate it.

The House action came a day after the Senate rebuffed Perry’s wishes on another matter, voting for legislation that would allow Texas to take more than half a billion dollars in economic stimulus funds for unemployment benefits. Perry opposes program changes that Texas would have to make to get the money.

-My San Antonio News

According to Houston lawmakers, who initiated the draining of Perry’s budget, it has nothing to do with his Perry’s recent comments about Texas’ ability to secede from the union. They just all of a sudden really wanted to fund some crucial programs that had been placed to simmer and forgotten on the Texan back burners for way too long.

I need the money. I don’t care where I get it. These people need help.

-Rep. John Davis, R-Houston, who offered the proposal to take $18.5 million from Perry’s office and spend it on mental health services that divert people from jails and emergency rooms.

Davis said he hopes that by taking the money from Perry’s office, he may get some leverage in keeping mental health funding at the needed level when legislative negotiators work out differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget — and, presumably, Perry’s funding is restored.

-My San Antonio News

The U.S. Democratic Houston Texas Rep. Jessica Farrar, said her move of $4 million from Perry’s office to veterans was also, in no way, aimed at the governor:

“I was trying to do something for veterans. That’s it.”

The combined moves left Perry’s personal office with only about $900,000 to operate. Ouch! He’s almost down to what we’ve got to work with down here, in Mexico.

In all sincerity, if you’re going to take budget cash from a loco Governor who claims he can just pick up his state and walk away from his entire nation whenever and however he likes, what better and more deserving programs to inject the funds into than community mental health services and U.S. military veterans.

Maybe, Governor Perry will think about what these veterans have sacraficed to provide for him, his state, and his nation. As for the mental health programs, just maybe he, too, will now being able to get the mental help he’s needed by taking personal advantage of the services Texas will now be offering.