This might be the only positive — or semi-positive — thing I’ll say about Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s effort to defend himself against prosecutors who’ve charged him with coercion and abuse of power.

He’s going to use campaign contributors’ money to pay for his defense.

Good going, Gov. Goodhair.

http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/20/questions-mount-about-perrys-legal-fees/

There. I’ve said it.

Perry says he doesn’t want to saddle taxpayers with the cost of mounting a defense. I’ll agree to that. I don’t want to pay for his defense. I’m guessing a few million other Texans don’t want to pay for it, either.

Texas campaign finance law allows candidates — or former candidates — to use surplus campaign cash any way they wish. Some of them actually pocket the dough when they leave office. Perry is going to use contributions from supporters for what he thinks is a righteous cause.

It’s fair to ask, though, whether someone who contributes to an officeholder’s campaign does so knowing the money could be spent for some reason other than helping the candidate get elected or re-elected. Then again, if you support that candidate, then it’s reasonable to believe one would support that candidate’s effort to mount a defense against charges brought against him or her.

Perry’s got a fight on his hands. A Travis County grand jury has indicted him on two felony charges relating to his veto of funds for the public integrity unit run by Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg, who pleaded guilty to drunk driving, served her time and then refused to resign after Perry demanded her to do so. The grand jury accused Perry of abusing the power of office by coercing Lehmberg to quit.

We’ll see how it plays out.

The good news for Texas taxpayers — such as yours truly — is that we aren’t paying for the governor’s hefty legal bill.