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====Tea Party protest==== |
====Tea Party protest==== |
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At a "[[2009 Tea Party protests|tea party protest]]" held on on April 15, 2009, Perry said, "Texas is a unique place. When we came into the union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that...My hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention. We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that."<ref name=hc>{{cite news |title=Perry gets the buzz and the bucks, too |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=April 17, 2009 |first=R.G. |last=Ratcliffe |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/6377814.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Perry says Texas can leave the union if it wants to |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=April 15, 2009 |first=R.G. |last=Ratcliffe |url=http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2009/04/perry_says_texa.html }}</ref> This has been regarded by some as a strong suggestion by Governor Perry about on his thoughts on secession of Texas from the Union.<ref>{{cite news |title=Governor Says Texans May Want to Secede From Union But Probably Won't |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[Fox News]] |date=April 15, 2009 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/governor-says-texans-want-secede-union-probably-wont/ }}</ref> In reference to Perry's comments, a spokesperson said that Perry "never advocated seceding".<ref name=hc/> According to ''[[Time]]'' magazine, experts say that Texas cannot legally secede but it may split into five states.<ref name="Secede">[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1891829,00.html What's All That Secession Ruckus in Texas?], [[TIME]], Apr. 17, 2009</ref> |
At a "[[2009 Tea Party protests|tea party protest]]" held on on April 15, 2009, Perry said, "Texas is a unique place. When we came into the union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that...My hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention. We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that."<ref name=hc>{{cite news |title=Perry gets the buzz and the bucks, too |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=April 17, 2009 |first=R.G. |last=Ratcliffe |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/6377814.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Perry says Texas can leave the union if it wants to |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=April 15, 2009 |first=R.G. |last=Ratcliffe |url=http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2009/04/perry_says_texa.html }}</ref> This has been regarded by some as a strong suggestion by Governor Perry about on his thoughts on secession of Texas from the Union.<ref>{{cite news |title=Governor Says Texans May Want to Secede From Union But Probably Won't |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[Fox News]] |date=April 15, 2009 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/15/governor-says-texans-want-secede-union-probably-wont/ }}</ref> In reference to Perry's comments, a spokesperson said that Perry "never advocated seceding".<ref name=hc/> According to ''[[Time]]'' magazine, experts say that Texas cannot legally secede but it may split into five states.<ref name="Secede">[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1891829,00.html What's All That Secession Ruckus in Texas?], [[TIME]], Apr. 17, 2009</ref> |
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====Responses==== |
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On April 19, the ''[[Amarillo Globe-News]]'' posted an editorial<ref>http://www.amarillo.com/stories/041909/opi_opinion1.shtml</ref>, writing that Perry "uttered some words that take that discussion to a level not heard since, oh, 1861 - when Texas in fact did secede and joined the Confederate States of America. We all know what happened next." |
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State representative [[Jim Dunnam]] (D-Waco) said:<blockquote> "Talk of secession is an attack on our country. It can be nothing else. It is the ultimate anti-American statement... We all knew he wanted to be president. I just didn't know it was president of the Republic of Texas."</blockquote> |
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State senator [[Rodney Ellis]] (D-Houston) said that Perry<blockquote> "is taking a step down a very dangerous and divisive path encouraged by the fringe of Texas politics."<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090416/ap_on_re_us/perry_secession</ref></blockquote> |
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Rep. [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]] (R-TX) said:<blockquote> "It is a Texas myth that we obtained the right to secede... It's not the kind of thing the governor ought to say without checking his facts."</blockquote> |
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U.S. Senator [[John Cornyn]] (R-TX) said:<blockquote> "Well, I don't think it's particularly useful. The legal response is 'You can't do it.' We fought a Civil War. You can't do it... I think it's a distraction. We have a lot of serious issues. This is not one of them."</blockquote> |
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Rep. [[Charlie Gonzalez]] (D-TX) said:<blockquote> "I think the governor got carried away. You see posturing in preparation for the Republican primary. It serves no useful purpose."</blockquote> |
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Rep. [[Gene Green]] (D-TX) said:<blockquote> "It's known as a joking matter up here. It doesn't present Texas in the best way."</blockquote> |
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Rep. [[Solomon Ortiz]] (D-TX) said:<blockquote> "That's not going to happen. We are interdependent. To secede; it's the wrong thing. Politically, it's going to hurt him."</blockquote> |
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Rep. [[Ron Paul]] (R-TX) said:<blockquote> "I'm receptive to the principle of secession. You should have the right to leave."<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/66845.html</ref></blockquote> |
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===Response to H1N1 influenza pandemic=== |
===Response to H1N1 influenza pandemic=== |
Revision as of 18:33, 12 May 2009
Rick Perry | |
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47th Governor of Texas | |
Assumed office December 21, 2000 | |
Lieutenant | Bill Ratliff (2000-2003) David Dewhurst (2003-present) |
Preceded by | George W. Bush |
44th Lieutenant Governor of Texas | |
In office January 17, 1999 – December 21, 2000 | |
Governor | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Bob Bullock |
Succeeded by | Bill Ratliff (acting) |
Personal details | |
Born | Paint Creek, Texas | March 4, 1950
Political party | Republican (1989-present) Democratic (1968-1989) |
Spouse | Anita Thigpen Perry |
Children | Griffin Perry Sydney Perry |
Residence | Austin, Texas |
Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
Profession | Political aide, legislator |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Air Force |
Rank | Captain |
Perry was succeeded by Bill Ratliff in the lieutenant governor's post by a vote of the Texas Senate in which Ratliff served until the election and inauguration of David Dewhurst. See related articles for details. | |
James Richard "Rick" Perry (born March 4, 1950) is a Republican politician and the current Governor of Texas.
Elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998, he assumed office as governor in December 2000 when Governor George W. Bush resigned before his inauguration as President of the United States. Perry was elected to two full terms in 2002 and 2006.
Perry served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2008, succeeding Sonny Perdue of Georgia. He now serves as Finance Chair.
Perry has broken all prior records in terms of Texas gubernatorial tenure, breaking Bill Clements' total service record of eight years over two non-consecutive terms in December 2008, and Allan Shivers' consecutive service record of 7 1/2 years in June 2008. As a result, according to the Dallas Morning News, Perry has had the distinction of being the only governor in modern Texas history to have appointed at least one person to every possible state office, board, or commission to which a Governor of Texas can appoint someone (as well as to several elected offices to which the governor can appoint someone to fill an unexpired term, such as five of the nine current members of the Texas Supreme Court). Should Perry complete his current term in 2010, he will become the first Governor of Texas to complete two consecutive four-year terms.
Perry has announced his intention to run for an unprecedented third consecutive term in 2010. He is likely to face a challenge in the Republican primary election from U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison[1], Texas Secession candidate Larry Kilgore,[2] and Wharton County Republican Party Chairwoman Debra Medina.[3]
Early life
A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born in tiny Paint Creek, about 60 miles (97 km) north of Abilene in West Texas, to ranchers Joseph Ray Perry and the former Amelia June Holt. His father, a Democrat, was a long-time Haskell County commissioner and school board member. Perry graduated from Paint Creek High School. As a child, Perry was in the Boy Scouts (BSA) and earned the rank of Eagle Scout, as his son, Griffin, would also later become an Eagle Scout.[4][5] The BSA honored Perry with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.[6]
Perry attended Texas A&M University where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and one of A&M's 5 male cheer leaders[7] (called "yell leaders" at Texas A&M). He graduated in 1972 with a degree in animal science. While at Texas A&M University Perry successfully completed a static line skydive at Ags Over Texas (a United States Parachute Association dropzone), the dropzone that was then in operation at Coulter Field (KCFD) in Bryan, Texas, just north of Texas A&M (in College Station, Texas).
Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force, completed pilot training and flew C-130 tactical airlift in the United States, the Middle East, and Europe until 1977. He left the Air Force with the rank of captain, returned to Texas and went into business farming cotton with his father.
In 1982, Perry married Anita Thigpen, his childhood sweetheart whom he had known since elementary school. They have two children, Griffin and Sydney. Anita Perry attended West Texas State University and earned a degree in nursing. She has spearheaded a number of health-related initiatives such as the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the San Antonio Health Science Center, which focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease, health education, and early childhood programming.
Perry has said that his interest in politics probably began in November 1961, when, at the age of eleven, his father took him to the funeral of the legendary Sam Rayburn, who during his long public career served as speaker of the Texas House and the U.S. House of Representatives. Dignitaries from all over the nation came to the small town of Bonham, the seat of Fannin County, for the official farewell to Rayburn.
Texas Legislature
In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from a district (64) that included his home county of Haskell. He served on the important House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three two-year terms in office. One of the freshman legislators that he befriended was Lena Guerrero of Austin, a staunch liberal Democrat who endorsed Perry's reelection bid in 2006 on personal, rather than philosophical, grounds. Perry was part of the "Pit Bulls", a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room (or "pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the lean 1980s.
In 1989, The Dallas Morning News named him one of the most effective legislators in the 71st Legislature.[citation needed] That same year, Perry announced that he was joining the Republican Party.[citation needed]
Agriculture Commissioner
In 1990, he challenged incumbent Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. Hightower had worked on behalf of Jesse Jackson for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, while Perry had supported U.S. Senator Al Gore of Tennessee. Perry narrowly unseated Hightower, even as the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Clayton Williams, went down to defeat at the hands of Ann Richards.[8]
As Agriculture Commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to other states and foreign nations and supervising the calibration of weights and measures, such as gasoline pumps and grocery store scales.
In 1994, Perry was reelected Agriculture Commissioner by a large margin, having polled 2,546,287 votes (61.92 percent) to Democrat Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 (35.98 percent). Libertarian Clyde L. Garland received the remaining 85,836 votes (2.08 percent).[9]
Lieutenant Governor
In 1998, Perry chose not to seek a third term as Agriculture Commissioner, but instead ran for lieutenant governor to succeed the retiring Democrat Bob Bullock. Perry polled 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat John Sharp of Victoria, who had relinquished the comptroller's position after two terms to seek the lieutenant governorship. Libertarian Anthony Garcia polled another 65,150 votes (1.75 percent).[9] Perry thus became the first lieutenant governor of Texas elected from the Republican Party.
Governor
Perry assumed the office of Governor late in 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to prepare for his presidential inauguration, becoming the first Texas A&M graduate to serve as Governor.
Perry won the office in his own right in the 2002 gubernatorial election when he defeated Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez, polling 2,632,591 votes (57.80 percent) to Sanchez's 1,819,798 (39.96 percent). Four minor candidates shared 2.21 percent of the vote.[9]
The 2006 gubernatorial election proved to be a stiffer challenge. Though he easily defeated token opposition in the primary election, Perry faced a six-way race involving former Democratic Congressman Chris Bell, Libertarian candidate James Werner (a sales consultant); and three independent candidates – outgoing Republican state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn (who chose not to face Perry in the primary race when early polling data suggested she would lose badly), well-known Texas country music singer Kinky Friedman, and write-in candidate James "Patriot" Dillon. Perry won the race in a plurality, polling 1,714,618 votes (39 percent) to Bell's 1,309,774 (29.8 percent), Strayhorn's 789,432 (18 percent), Friedman's 553,327 (12.6 percent), and Werner's 26,726 (0.6 percent). Dillon garnered a mere 718 votes. Perry became only the third governor in state history to have been elected by a plurality of less than 40 percent of votes cast (the 1853 and 1861 races also featured plurality winners carrying under 40 percent).
As a result of his office and his political alignment, Perry is a member of the Republican Governors Association, the National Governors Association, the Western Governors Association, and the Southern Governors Association.
Early in his term as governor Perry worked to make health care more accessible. He pushed through the State Children's Health Insurance Program designed to insure 500,000 children.[citation needed] and convinced the state Legislature to increase health funding by $6 billion.[citation needed] Some of these programs have since faced funding problems. He also increased school funding prior to the 2002 election and created new scholarship programs to help needy children, including $300 million for the Texas GRANT Scholarship Program.[citation needed] Some $9 billion was allocated to Texas public schools, colleges, and universities and combined with a new emphasis on accountability for both teachers and students.[citation needed]
Perry's lieutenant governor and governor campaigns focused on a tough stance on crime. In June 2002, he vetoed a ban on the execution of mentally retarded inmates. He has also supported block grants for crime programs.
Another element of Perry's platform has been tort reform; as lieutenant governor he had tried and failed to place a limit on class action awards and allowing plaintiffs to distribute awards among several liable sources. In 2003, Perry sponsored a controversial state constitutional amendment to cap medical malpractice rewards;[citation needed] this proposal was narrowly approved by voters.
This legislation has resulted in a decrease in malpractice insurance rates and a marked increase in the number of doctors seeking certification to practice in Texas, bringing skilled practitioners to areas of the state long in need of quality care, although many doctors have cut back on their insurance, which makes it harder for plaintiffs to collect damages. [10]
Recently, Rick Perry has drawn attention for his criticism of the Obama administration's handling of the recession, and for turning down approximately $555 million in stimulus money for unemployment insurance.
Fiscal issues
Perry, a proclaimed proponent of fiscal conservatism, has often campaigned on tax reform and job growth. Perry resisted state income taxes and sales tax increases, protected the state's "Rainy Day fund", balanced the state budget as required by state law, and was reelected on a platform to reduce property taxes that exploded with the inflation of property values in the late 1990s and the 21st century. However, shortly after taking office, he backed down from the reduction of residential property taxes. He has been credited[who?] with attracting thousands of jobs to Texas in recent years.[citation needed]
In early 2006 Perry angered many fiscal conservatives in his own party by supporting an increase in the state franchise tax alongside a property tax reform bill. Many organizations within the Republican Party itself condemned Perry's tax bill, HB-3, and likened it to a "back door" state income tax.[11] Perry claimed in a statewide advertising campaign that the bill would save the average taxpayer $2,000 in property taxes. Critics contended that Perry inflated these numbers. The actual tax savings, they said, would average only $150 per family.[12]
In 2003, Perry signed legislation that created the Texas Enterprise Fund to enhance the development of the economy of Texas a top priority. In 2004, Perry authorized the Enterprise Fund to make a $20 million grant to Countrywide Financial in return for a promise "to create 7,500 new jobs in the state by 2010." The grant is one of the largest made from the fund in terms of the size of the grant and the number of jobs promised. In the fall of 2007, while slashing jobs and with its stock price plummeting, Countrywide assured Perry's office that the company "believed" it would meet its 2010 commitment[13] only to be acquired in a fire sale two months later by Bank of America.
His sales tax cuts have attracted new retail businesses to Texas,[citation needed] but in recent years his tax relief has come under scrutiny for having sapped strength from government programs, particularly education. In 2004, Texas ranked 49 in percentage of residents having completed high school[14] and number 42 in physical exercise.[15]
Perry has faced considerable resistance in balancing fiscal conservatism, education equity, and the politics of school finance. As lieutenant governor, he initially sponsored a controversial school vouchers bill as an alternative to the "Robin Hood" school finance proposal. In 2004, Perry attacked the same "Robin Hood" plan as detrimental to the educational system. He attempted to get the legislature to abolish the system and replace it with one that he believed would encourage greater equity, cost less, hold down property and sales taxes, and foster job growth. Perry objected to the legalization of video lottery terminals at racetracks and on Indian reservations as well as increases in cigarette taxes.
In 2003, Perry called three consecutive special legislative sessions to procure a congressional redistricting plan more favorable to Republicans. The plan finally adopted, supported by then U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land, brought about a five-seat Republican gain in the delegation. In 2006, however, the five-seat edge was reduced to three seats. Spokesmen for minority groups claimed that the plan was designed to reduce the legislative clouts of African Americans and Hispanic voters.
A special session of the legislature was convened on June 21, 2005, to address education issues, but resistance developed from House Speaker Tom Craddick, a Republican from Midland. Perry's proposal was attacked by members from property-poor districts and was rejected. During the session, Perry became involved in a heated debate with Comptroller Carole Strayhorn about the merits of his school finance proposal. Strayhorn initially planned to oppose Perry in the 2006 Republican primary but instead ran as an independent in the general election.[16] Another special session was convened on July 21, 2005 after Perry vetoed all funding for public schools for the 2007-2008 biennium. He vowed not to "approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and education reforms. And I cannot let $2 billion sit in some bank account when it can go directly to the classroom."
Perry's campaign office in 2006 declared that without the special session, some "$2 billion that had been intended for teacher pay raises, education reforms, and other school priorities would have gone unused because House Bill 2 [the public school reform package] didn’t pass."[17] The bill failed to pass in the first session, and was refiled in a second session, in which the bill was defeated 62-79, after 50 amendments were added without discussion or debate.[18]
Late in 2005, as approval of his governorship sunk to all-time lows in public opinion polls, Perry requested assistance from his former lieutenant-governor rival, John Sharp, who is a former Texas State Comptroller and a member of the Texas Railroad Commission, Texas State Senate and Texas House of Representatives, to head an education task force charged with preparing a bipartisan education plan. The special session convened on April 17, 2006. Sharp accepted Perry's offer and removed himself as a potential candidate for governor in 2006. The task force issued its final plan several months later, and the legislature adopted it.[19] For his successful efforts, Sharp was later nominated by the Dallas Morning News for the "Texan of the Year" award.[20]
Social conservatism
In 2005, Perry, a social conservative, signed an abortion bill that limited late term abortions and required girls under the age of eighteen who procure abortions to notify their parents. Under criticism from advocates of choice, Perry signed the bill in the gymnasium of Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Worth, an evangelical Christian school.
Perry is also known for his socially conservative views on homosexuality. He condemned the United States Supreme Court decision in Lawrence vs. Texas striking down sodomy laws and called Texas' last such law "appropriate."[21]
Perry's Christian faith
In what was described as a "God and country" sermon at the Cornerstone church in San Antonio, attended by Perry and other mostly Republican candidates, the Rev. John Hagee stated, "If you live your life and don't confess your sins to God Almighty through the authority of Christ and His blood, I'm going to say this very plainly, you're going straight to hell with a nonstop ticket." Perry was asked if he agreed with those comments and said, "It is my faith, and I'm a believer of that."[22] Perry went on to say that there was nothing in the sermon that he took exception with. Perry said he believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and those who reject Jesus Christ as their Saviour will go to hell. Condemnation from his opponents was swift. Kinky Friedman, the Jewish independent candidate for governor said, "He doesn't think very differently from the Taliban, does he?" Carole Keeton Strayhorn disagreed with Perry's comments, and Democrat Chris Bell said that one who is in public office should "respect people of all faiths and denominations." Fundamental conservatives then responded, arguing that Perry had a right to his faith, and that he was not disrespecting Americans of other religious convictions.[23]
HPV vaccine
On February 2, 2007, Perry issued an executive order mandating that Texas girls be vaccinated with Gardasil, a newly approved drug manufactured by Merck that protects against some strains of the human papilloma virus which causes cervical cancer. The move made national headlines.[24]
Perry's move has been criticized by some social conservatives and some parents due to concerns about the moral implications of the vaccine and safety concerns. On February 22, 2007, a group of families sued in an attempt to block Gov. Perry's executive order.[25] Several financial connections between Merck and Rick Perry have been reported by news outlets, such as a $6,000 campaign contribution, as well as Merck's hiring of former Perry Chief of Staff Mike Toomey to handle its Texas lobby work.[26]
Adding to the criticism of Perry's order is what is viewed by some as a high price of the vaccine which is approximately $US360 in Texas.[27] Gardasil is a patent-restricted vaccine and Merck is the sole producer.
On May 9, 2007, Perry allowed a bill to go into law that would undo his executive order.[28]
Record use of vetoes
Perry set a record in the 2001 legislative session for the use of the veto: he rejected legislation a total of eighty-two times, more than any other governor in any single legislative session in the history of the state since Reconstruction. Perry's use of the veto drew criticism from both parties in the 2002 gubernatorial campaign, having used the veto only nine fewer times than preceding Governor George W. Bush had during three legislative sessions and twenty-two more than Ann Richards cast in two sessions.[29] In the two legislative sessions since the 2001 session, Perry was more conservative in his use of the veto, employing it only fifty-one times.[30] However, as of 2005, he has used the veto more than any other Texas governor in a continuous administration; the only governor who exceeded Perry's total was Bill Clements, who faced a heavily Democratic legislature. Clements vetoed legislation 184 times in eight years: Perry, 132 times in five years.
Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith
Perry has made numerous appointments to the Texas courts, the Railroad Commission, as secretary of state, and to other boards and commissions during his tenure as governor. One of his first selections was the appointment of Xavier Rodriguez to succeed Greg Abbott on the Texas Supreme Court. Rodriguez, who called himself a moderate, was quickly unseated in the 2002 Republican primary by conservative Steven Wayne Smith, the attorney in the Hopwood v. Texas suit in 1996, which successfully challenged affirmative action at the University of Texas Law School. Hopwood, however, was overturned in a 2003 decision stemming from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Steven Smith was elected by a comfortable margin over Democratic opposition in the 2002 general election.
Perry objected to Smith's tenure on the court and refused to meet with the new justice when Smith attempted to mend fences with the governor. Perry encouraged Judge Paul Green to challenge Smith in the 2004 Republican primary. Perry fundraised for Green,[citation needed] who defeated Smith in the primary and was then elected without opposition in the general election. Smith attempted a comeback in the 2006 Republican primary by challenging Justice Don Willett, another Perry appointee who was considered a conservative on the court. Smith polled 49.5 percent of the primary vote, but Willett narrowly prevailed.
Trans-Texas Corridor
Perry has been the lead proponent of the Trans-Texas Corridor, a $145+ billion-dollar project that would encompass multi-lane highways, rail and utilities, speeding the movement of people, products and power across the state. Rather than place constrictive tax burdens on businesses and citizens, the project was proposed to be partially financed, partially built and wholly operated by private contractors who, in exchange for a multi-billion dollar investment, will receive all toll proceeds, notably Cintra, a Spanish-owned company, and its minority partner, San Antonio-based Zachry Construction Corporation, one of Texas' largest road construction companies.[31] Some of the more controversial aspects of the project include tolls, private operation of toll collections (at rates set by local municipalities), and extensive use of eminent domain (or the option for landowners to maintain a lucrative equity stake in the project) to acquire property.
Perry has come under fire for opposing the public release of the actual terms of the 50-year deal with Cintra to the public for fear they would chill the possibility of the company's investment; Perry's former liaison to the legislature and expert in public-private partnership, former State Senator Dan Shelly, returned to his consulting/lobbying work with Cintra after securing the TTC deal while on the state payroll. All of Perry's gubernatorial opponents opposed the corridor project. The 2006 state party platforms of both the Democratic and Republicans parties also opposed the current corridor legislation.[32][33] In August, 2008, Perry co-signed a letter indicating his interest in exploring a variety of approaches to meeting the state's transportation infrastructure needs.
In 2001, Perry appointed Ric Williamson of Weatherford, an old friend, former legislative colleague and innovator, to the Texas Transportation Commission. Williamson became the commission chairman in 2004 and worked for TTC until his sudden death of a heart attack on December 30, 2007.
In 2007 Governor Perry endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President. Many found this to be strange considering the two differed on many issues, but Perry stated he chose Giuliani for his fiscal conservatism and intention to appoint ideologically conservative judges to the Supreme Court.
Death penalty
Rick Perry supports the death penalty.[34] Perry has been criticized by anti-death penalty groups including some human rights organizations worldwide. Under Texas law, the Board of Pardon and Parole must make a recommendation to commute such a sentence, which the Governor is free to ignore, but the reverse is not true– if the Board does not make such a recommendation the Governor cannot then commute the sentence. The only power the Governor has is to issue one, 30-day reprieve.
However, the chairman of the board is appointed by the governor, and serves at his pleasure.[35] Also, all the members of the Parole Board have been appointed by the incumbent Governor of Texas.[36] The mission statement for the work of the board is laid down after consultation with the Governor and the procedures and policies of the Board are to a great extent decided by the chairperson the Governor has chosen; the chairman also decides which Board members are to serve when an individual case is decided.[35][37]
Pardons and commutations
In 2005, Frances Newton's appeal for a commutation of her death penalty was declined, although some allege that there was insufficient evidence to convict. Her attorney had also argued Newton was incapable of standing trial. Newton was executed on September 14, 2005. The Board of Pardon and Parole did not recommend a commutation, thus Perry could not do so himself, and chose not to grant the one-time reprieve.
Tyrone Brown was an African-American who was sentenced to life in a Texas maximum security prison in 1990 for smoking marijuana while on probation. Texas Judge Keith Dean had originally placed Brown on probation but changed the sentence after Brown tested positive for marijuana. After being defeated in the last Dallas election, Judge Dean requested the governor pardon Brown. On March 9, 2007, Perry, upon approval of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, granted Brown a conditional pardon (under Texas law Perry cannot grant pardons without the Board's consent).[38]
On August 30, 2007, Perry commuted the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, an accomplice in a 1996 slaying. Evidence had shown that while Foster was present at the scene of the crime (transporting the individual who actually committed the crime away from the scene in his car), he had nothing to do with the actual commission of the murder, and, for that matter, may not have even been aware that it had been taking place, as he was outside in his car at the time. The Board of Pardon and Parole had recommended the commutation, and Perry chose to convert the sentence to life in prison, with a possibility of parole in 2037, doing so three hours before Foster was to die by lethal injection.[39]
Environmental issues
Texas-based TXU is planning a $10 billion investment in eleven new coal-fired power plants over the next several years. In 2006, Perry fast-tracked the permitting process and limited the time frame for public comment on this proposal.[40]
Perry rejects regulation of greenhouse gas emissions because he says it would have "devastating implications" for the Texas economy and energy industry. Many environmentalists consider this position to be shortsighted and alarmist.[41]
Inauguration concert controversy
Perry invited his friend, rocker Ted Nugent, to perform at a black-tie gala hours after Perry's second inauguration ceremony. Using machine guns as props, and with skulls adorned with head dresses representing dead American Indians, Nugent appeared onstage during the inaugural ball wearing a cutoff T-shirt emblazoned with the Confederate flag and shouting offensive remarks about non-English speakers, according to press reports.[42] The NAACP condemned Nugent's flying of the Confederate flag as a symbol of "the enslavement of African-Americans and more recently the symbol of hate groups and terrorists".[43][44] Nugent denied making any racial comments.[45]
Bilderberg Group meeting
Perry attended the 2007 meeting of the Bilderberg Group in Istanbul, Turkey.[46] The Bilderberg conferences are annual secret meetings of influential persons in the fields of business, media, and politics, in which convening members are prohibited from disclosing details of the discussions to the public.[47]
Fire at Texas Governor's Mansion
On June 8, 2008, the 152-year-old historic state governor's residence was swept by a fire the local authorities suspected was a result of arson. The mansion, which was undergoing planned maintenance, had no occupants at the time; Perry and his family had been living elsewhere since the previous fall. Because the fire occurred outside of working hours, no workers were inside, although much of the building was badly damaged.[48] At the time of the fire, Perry himself was in Stockholm, Sweden, on an economic development tour to encourage investment in Texas.
Comments on the sovereignty of Texas
Resolution
In April 2009, Perry endorsed a resolution supporting state sovereignty as reserved by the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.[49] On April 9, 2009, Gov. Perry said, "I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state. That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states' rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union."[49]
Tea Party protest
At a "tea party protest" held on on April 15, 2009, Perry said, "Texas is a unique place. When we came into the union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that...My hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention. We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that."[50][51] This has been regarded by some as a strong suggestion by Governor Perry about on his thoughts on secession of Texas from the Union.[52] In reference to Perry's comments, a spokesperson said that Perry "never advocated seceding".[50] According to Time magazine, experts say that Texas cannot legally secede but it may split into five states.[53]
Response to H1N1 influenza pandemic
Governor Perry asked for federal assistance in fighting the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.[54]
Political future
Should he complete his current term, Perry will have been in office for over ten consecutive years (the remainder of George W. Bush's second term after he left to become President, plus two elected full terms). He is currently the longest serving Governor of Texas in terms of both total time in office and continuous time in office. (Bill Clements previously held the record for total time in office, having served two non-consecutive four-year terms; Allan Shivers previously held the continuous time record at 7.5 years.)
Texas does not impose term limits on its governors; thus, Perry is free to run for a third full term in 2010, and in April 2008, Perry announced his intent to run for reelection.[55] There is considerable speculation that U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has announced she will not run for another term in 2012 and could retire before then, will also run for Governor in 2010 in the Republican primary, as will Texas Secession candidate Larry Kilgore.
Perry has never publicly indicated aspirations to the Senate or any other higher office. In April 2008 while appearing as a guest on CNBC's Kudlow & Company he specifically stated that he would not agree to serve as Vice President in a McCain Administration, stating that he already had "the best job in the world" as Governor of Texas.
2008 presidential endorsements
In October 2007, despite their political differences on many social issues, he endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President. "Rudy Giuliani is the most prepared individual of either party to be the next President... I'm not talkin' about any mayor, I'm talkin' about America's Mayor," Perry said.[56] Many conjectured that, if Giuliani were elected, Perry might have been considered for a position in the new President's cabinet, or perhaps the Vice Presidency.[57] However, Giuliani withdrew from the race on January 30, 2008 after failing to gain support in early primaries.
Both Giuliani and Perry immediately endorsed Arizona Senator John McCain for President.[58] Shortly after Mitt Romney's somewhat unexpected withdrawal from the race in early February, the Governor reportedly[49] called McCain rival Mike Huckabee and suggested that he withdraw as well to clear the way for McCain to secure the nomination. Huckabee declined this request and made it clear publicly that he would only abandon his presidential bid if McCain secured enough delegates. Huckabee withdrew his presidential bid on March 5, 2008 after John McCain won the Texas and Ohio primaries.
Publications
Rick Perry's first book, On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For was published in February 2008 while he was serving his second term as governor.[59] In his book, he criticized the ACLU for its legal actions against the Boy Scouts of America.[60]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Perry (Incumbent) | 2,617,106 | 58.1 | ||
Democratic | Tony Sanchez | 1,809,915 | 40.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Perry (Incumbent) | 1,716,803 | 39.3 | -18.8 | |
Democratic | Chris Bell | 1,310,353 | 29.8 | -10.5 | |
Independent | Carole Keeton Strayhorn | 797,577 | 18.1 | ||
Independent | Richard “Kinky” Friedman | 546,869 | 12.4 | ||
Libertarian | James Werner | 133,806 | 1.8 |
References
- ^ Slater, Wayne (2008-12-04). "Hutchison signals she's ready for a showdown with Perry in 2010". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
- ^ Hoff, Jenny (02 Mar 2009). "Tom Schieffer to make gubernatorial run". KXAS-TV. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Barbee, Chris (28 Mar 2009). "County GOP Chair considers run for governor's post". leader-news.com. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
- ^ "Rick Perry". Office of the Governor. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ Lucas, Fred. "Texas Governor Urges Protection for Boy Scouts". Western Voices World News via CNSnews.com. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
- ^ "Distinguished Eagle Scout Award". Fact Sheet. Boy Scouts of America. December 31, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
- ^ Bush Returns to a Divided Texas Republican Party
- ^ New Faces Replace Washington-Bound Governors
- ^ a b c http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/
- ^ More Doctors in Texas After Malpractice Caps - New York Times
- ^ Harris County GOP Passes Resolution Against HB3 « Right Of Texas
- ^ Burnt Orange Report::: Perry's Deceptive Advertising Analyzed by the Lone Star Project
- ^ Austin American-Statesman, November 9, 2007, page D1
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050618/ap_on_re_us/texas_governor_s_race
- ^ http://www.rickperry.org/news/display.php?id=11
- ^ http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/hjrnl/792/html/79c2day03final.htm
- ^ http://www.governor.state.tx.us/priorities/tax_reform/TTRC_report/files/TTRC_report.pdf
- ^ Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: DMN 2005 Texan of the Year
- ^ Perry Calls Sodomy Law ‘Appropriate’
- ^ "Perry believes non-Christians doomed". Dallas Morning News. 2006-11-06.
- ^ Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Texas Southwest
- ^ "Monkey and other business". The Economist. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Texas Families Seek to Block Gov's Order
- ^ Perry's staff discussed vaccine on day Merck donated to campaign
- ^ PETERSON, LIZ AUSTIN (2007-02-02). "Texas Gov. Orders Anti-Cancer Vaccine". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
- ^ Perry lets HPV bill go into law
- ^ Texas Politics - The Executive Branch
- ^ Texas Politics - Governors
- ^ "Trans-Texas Corridor: FAQs". Texas Department of Transporation. 2004. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "2006 STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM" (PDF). Texas Republican Party. 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "2006 Texas Democratic Party Platform" (PDF). 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ Thomas, Evan (2007-11-10). "Injection of Reflection". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Texas Administrative Code". State of Texas. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Year of Appointment of Board Members". State of Texas. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Texas Administrative Code". State of Texas. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Inmate Given Life After Drug Use Is Pardoned in Texas". Associated Press / New York Times. 2007-03-10.
- ^ Governor Commutes Sentence in Texas - New York Times
- ^ Cut CO2 - You Can Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- ^ [3]
- ^ Yahoo! Music News. "Rocker's Inaugural Act Creates Stir." January 18, 2007.[4]
- ^ Yahoo! Music News. "Rocker's Inaugural Act Creates Stir." January 18, 2007.
- ^ Ted Nugent News on Yahoo! Music
- ^ Ted Nugent controversy
- ^ HOPPE, CHRISTY (2007-05-31). "Perry off to secret forum in Turkey". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
- ^ "Inside the secretive Bilderberg Group". BBC. BBC News. 2005-09-29. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Star-Ledger Wire Services, Arson eyed in fire at historic Texas governor's mansion, The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), June 9, 2008, p. 11
- ^ a b c "Gov. Perry Backs Resolution Affirming Texas' Sovereignty Under 10th Amendment" (Press release). Office of the Governor of Texas. April 9, 2009. Cite error: The named reference "test" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b Ratcliffe, R.G. (April 17, 2009). "Perry gets the buzz and the bucks, too". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ Ratcliffe, R.G. (April 15, 2009). "Perry says Texas can leave the union if it wants to". Houston Chronicle.
- ^ "Governor Says Texans May Want to Secede From Union But Probably Won't". Fox News. Associated Press. April 15, 2009.
- ^ What's All That Secession Ruckus in Texas?, TIME, Apr. 17, 2009
- ^ http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/local/local_story_115145845.html
- ^ Batheja, Aman (2008-04-17). "Gov. Perry says he'll run again in 2010". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Texas governor Rick Perry endorses Rudy Giuliani
- ^ Texas governor Rick Perry endorses Giuliani Dallas News, Oct. 17, 2007
- ^ Perry Picks McCain Day After Giuliani's Withdrawal Dallas Morning News, Jan. 31, 2008
- ^ Perry, Rick (2008). On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For. Stroud & Hall. ISBN 978-0979646225.
{{cite book}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Selby, W. Gardner (2008-02-09). "In first book, Perry criticizes ACLU and defends Boy Scouts". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
External links
- Governor Rick Perry official state website
- Perry for Governor official campaign website
- Follow the Money - Rick Perry
- 1998 Lt. Governor campaign contributions
- Profile from Votimus
- Heir to the Throne Jenny Staff, Austin Chronicle May 28, 1999
- Continued absence of Dems grinds House to a halt Shelley Kofler, WFAA-TV, May 14, 2003
- The Class of 1985 Austin Chronicle, February 27, 2004
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}}]] {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:LIVING}}
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