So, it turns out that George P. Bush, son of a Bush and newly elected Texas Land Commissioner, has been trained well in the ways of the Bush.

The Houston Chronicle broke the story this morning.

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush has spent nearly $1 million in taxpayer money to entice dozens of people fired by his administration to agree not to sue him or the agency, a practice that may run afoul of a ban on severance pay for state workers.

He kept people on the payroll for up to five months after they were fired in exchange for firing them without cause.  They were from the previous Land Commissioner’s term, a fellow Republican.

Such separation arrangements are made frequently in the corporate world but are not allowed in Texas government, where there is no severance and staffers generally are required to work to be paid, according to employment lawyers, union leaders and former state officials.

Well, Honey, add this to Attorney General Ken Paxton granting “emergency leave” paid packages to about half his office, and the Tea Party Republicans have a hard time claiming that they like small government when half the damn state is drawing a salary sitting at home.

If this ain’t welfare, I don’t know what is.

Thanks to Bubba for the heads up.