Gov. Perry on Pro-Life Policy

"Over the past 30 years, Michigan pretty much lost the auto and truck industry to the Sun Belt. When Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and other international competitors came to the U.S., they almost exclusively chose Sun Belt locations," he says.

"The same thing is now happening to California." And this time, companies are beating a path to Texas.

Niemi cites a study done by Bain & Co. a few years ago that surveyed the CEOs of all companies headquartered in California.

"Forty percent said they were making plans to leave the state," Niemi says. "Of those planning to leave, 35 percent said they would likely move offshore to find cheaper labor, 36 percent said they were planning to move to Texas and the remaining 29 percent said they would relocate somewhere else in the U.S."

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today received the endorsement of Pat Carlson, president of the Texas Eagle Forum, for re-election in 2010.

“Gov. Perry is the only conservative leader in this race willing to make the hard choices to address the needs of Texas families,” said Carlson. “He has been an unyielding advocate for the rights of the unborn and protecting Texas families. Texas was last in and will be first out of one of the worst recessions in U.S. history because of his stewardship over our state’s economy. On every issue important to Texas, Gov. Perry is the obvious choice in this race.”

Carlson has served as president of the Texas Eagle Forum since 2009. She is a member of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Advisory Council, board member of the Trinity River Authority and a Republican Precinct Chairman.

“I am grateful for Pat’s leadership on important fiscal and social issues important to Texas families,” said Gov. Perry. “I am honored to have the support of a proven conservative like her in this election. Texas has been resilient in overcoming obstacles because of conservative principles, economic restraint and putting families first. I will continue to make these principles my top priorities as governor.”

Offers Keynote Address at Texas Rally for Life

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today spoke at the Texas Rally for Life to highlight the importance of protecting life of the unborn in Texas. He was joined by State Sen. Dan Patrick, State Rep. Frank Corte, Texas Alliance for Life executive director Dr. Joe Pojman, Heidi Group founder Carol Everett and several other pro-life leaders, including more than 3,000 pro-life Texans who were in attendance.

“I am so very proud of the well-deserved reputation Texas has as a pro-life state, and proud that those here today, and people of conscience all across our state, have helped make Texas one of the safest states for the unborn,” said Gov. Perry. “We must continue our efforts to defend life, which include reaching out to our elected leaders and expressing our concerns, and using our votes to support leaders who share our commitment to protecting the unborn.”

Gov. Perry spoke of the increasing threat to pro-life values on the national level, citing President Obama’s reversal of the “Mexico City policy,” which now allows American tax dollars to fund abortions in foreign countries, and a 2009 FDA ruling that permits embryonic stem cell experimentation, even though adult stem cells are proven more effective in medical research. He also called for increased efforts to raise awareness of adoption and renewed support of an sonogram bill that failed to pass the 81st legislative session that would require a physician to perform an obstetric ultrasound on a woman at least two hours before a scheduled abortion.

No major state has weathered the recession more successfully than Texas. So it’s logical that the best place to launch a new business would be a prominent Texas metropolitan area.

The nation’s top score for small-business vitality, according to a new Portfolio.com/bizjournals study, belongs to Austin, the state's capital and the center of a thriving metro with 1.7 million residents. A six-part formula was used to analyze the nation’s 100 largest metros, looking for the places that are most conducive to the creation and development of small businesses.

Joins More Than 60 Associations and Conservative Leaders To Tout Vision for Texas’ Future

DALLAS – Gov. Rick Perry today joined more than 60 associations and conservative leaders who have endorsed his re-election to highlight his diverse, statewide support. He also touted accomplishments that have strengthened Texas’ economy and offered his vision to keep Texas moving forward.

“I am deeply honored to have the support of these Texans from fields including agriculture, healthcare, retail sales, manufacturing construction, law enforcement and education, as well as advocates for genuine Texas values, all of whom play an essential role in our state’s future,” said Gov. Perry. “With support like this, anything is possible, and I am genuinely grateful for their endorsements.”

From trade associations including the Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Association of Realtors and Texas Medical Association, to influential conservative leaders including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Gov. Perry’s endorsements highlight the broad-based support he has from diverse groups and industries. He also has strong support from the state’s Republican Party leadership, including endorsements from two-thirds of the State Republican Executive Committee leadership, several former chairs of the Republican Party of Texas, and Republican National Committeeman Bill Crocker.

Gov. Perry emphasized his focus on job creation and economic development, noting its importance to maintaining the state’s economic strength and pointing to the state’s low taxes, predictable regulatory climate, fair legal system and education efforts that have helped make it a national leader in exports and Fortune 500 companies.

The governor also spoke against the misguided policies being promoted by Washington, including cap-and-trade and healthcare reform, that would expand government, increase debt and further intrude into Americans’ lives. He noted the important role states should play in offering innovative, effective alternatives to the challenges our nation faces.

“The future well-being of our country resides at the state level with experienced executives leading their states to sustain a climate of innovation while running interference with a federal government run amok,” said Gov. Perry. “That is why I am seeking re-election. I love Texas and I am fully convinced that we have the fundamentals in place to lead our country out of these tough times.”

Moving forward, Gov. Perry reiterated his proposals to make the recent small business tax cut permanent, promote a Constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds vote of the legislature to increase state taxes, root out unnecessary regulations that stifle innovation and investment, and expand the number of STEM schools in the state and UTeach programs at state universities.

Click here to view a video highlighting Gov. Perry's endorsements.

Below is the list of individuals and groups who have endorsed Gov. Perry’s re-election:

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Texas Municipal Police Association
Texas Chemical Council
Texas Society of Professional Engineers
Republican National Committeewoman Cathie Adams
Texas Right to Life
Houston Realty Business Coalition
Texas Apartment Association
TX Republican County Chairman Assoc. Pres. Linda Rogers
Heidi Group Founder Carol Everett
Texas Alliance for Life
Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association PAC
Texas Home School Coalition PAC
Texans for Life Coalition President Kyleen Wright
Conservative Republicans of Texas President Dr. Steve Hotze
Free Market Foundation President Kelly Shackelford
Texas Chiropractic Association
Americans for Prosperity* State Director Peggy Venable
Texas State Association of Fire Fighters
Texas Association of Realtors
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Texas Civil Justice League PAC
Texas Oil and Gas Association President Rob Looney
Concerned Women for America State Director Ann Hettinger
Texas Optometric Association PAC
Texas Pest Control Association
Energy Entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens
Texas Recreational Vehicle Association
Texas Poultry Federation
Justice at the Gate Founder Alice Patterson
Former Republican Party of Texas Chair Tina Benkiser
Texas Cattle Feeders Beef-PAC
Eagle Forum Founder Phyllis Schlafly
Texas Pharmacy Business Council
Justice Foundation President Allan Parker, Jr.
Texas Podiatric Medical Association
Texas Association for Interior Design
Former Texas Republican Party Chairman Susan Weddington
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Bill Bennett
Family Research Council Action PAC Chairman Tony Perkins
WallBuilders President and Founder David Barton
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour
Texas Association of Builders HOMEPAC
Manufacturers PAC of Texas
Texas Medical Association TEXPAC
Former Republican Party of Texas Chair George Strake
Texas Society of Anesthesiologists PAC
Texas Restaurant Association PAC
Vision America Founder Dr. Rick Scarborough
Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas PAC
Recreational Fishing Alliance
Texas Recreational Fishing Alliance
Texas Nursery and Landscape Association PAC
Career Colleges and Schools of Texas
Two-Thirds of the State Republican Executive Committee
Republican National Committeeman Bill Crocker
Former Republican Party of Texas Chair Tom Pauken
Texas Motor Transportation Association TRUCKPAC
Empower Texans PAC

*Organization listed for identification purposes only, Americans for Prosperity itself does not endorse candidates.
# # #

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today received the endorsement of Eagle Forum Founder Phyllis Schlafly for re-election in 2010.

“More than just about any elected leader in our nation, Gov. Perry has fought and delivered on his promises to defend pro-life and pro-family values within the state of Texas,” said Phyllis Schlafly. “In a time where conservative ideals are increasingly under attack, Gov. Perry hasn’t backed away from working to implement policies that defend families, religious freedoms and life. I am proud to offer him my support in his re-election effort.”

Schlafly is the founder and president of Eagle Forum, a national organization of citizens who participate as volunteers in the public policymaking process. She has been a national leader of the conservative movement since the publication of her best-selling 1964 book, A Choice Not An Echo and a leader of the pro-family movement since 1972, when she founded Eagle Forum.

“Phyllis has been a mighty force across our nation in the effort to foster conservative values in government,” said Gov. Rick Perry. “I’m honored to receive her endorsement and proud to stand alongside her in efforts to strengthen families, fight for life and protect our freedoms.”

Schlafly joins the Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Chemical Council, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, RNC Committeewoman Cathie Adams, Texas Right to Life, Houston Realty Business Coalition, Texas Apartment Association, Texas Republican County Chairman Association President Linda Rogers, Heidi Group Founder Carol Everett, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association PAC, Texas Home School Coalition PAC, Texans for Life President Kyleen Wright, Conservative Republicans of Texas President Dr. Steve Hotze, Free Market Foundation President Kelly Shackelford, Texas Chiropractic Association, Americans for Prosperity* State Director Peggy Venable, the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Civil Justice League PAC, Texas Oil Gas Association President Rob Looney, Concerned Women for America State Director Ann Hettinger, Texas Optometric Association PAC, Texas Pest Control Association, energy entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens, Texas Recreational Vehicle Association, Texas Poultry Federation, Justice at the Gate Founder Alice Patterson and the Texas Cattle Feeders Beef-PAC in their endorsement of Gov. Perry.

*Organization listed for identification purposes only, Americans for Prosperity itself does not endorse candidates.

As the 2010 gubernatorial race unfolds in Texas, battle lines are clearly drawn between two candidates -- Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison: both of whom are Republicans, but only one of whom is a conservative.

Perry is known as being pro-gun, pro-life, pro-traditional family, and the longest serving governor in the state’s history, while Hutchison is pro-gun (most of the time), pro-choice, and one of the Republican senators who went against the Bush Administration and the CIA in supporting Sen. John McCain’s 2005 Anti-Torture Amendment -- the amendment Rush Limbaugh correctly described as “the terrorists’ bill of rights.”

As for guns, under Perry, Texans have enjoyed the promulgation of the gun culture they love. During his last term alone, the jewel in his gun-rights crown was his signing of the “Castle Doctrine” into law; a law which not only recognizes the right of Texans to kill in self-defense but which also removes any civil recourse on the part of the criminal and his or her family.

Reuters news service reacted to this law by warning: “Criminals in Texas beware: if you threaten someone in their car or office, the citizens of this state where guns are ubiquitous have the right to shoot you dead.” Reuters may not know it, but Texans like the idea of killing criminals before criminals can kill innocent people.

Hutchison’s respectable gun record carries with it the caveat that she opposed the Bush Administration’s ban on “lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence.” Because gun enthusiasts in Texas understand that Hutchison’s vote against ending such lawsuits is tantamount to giving liberal lawyers the ability to sue gun makers out of existence, she will have some explaining to do on this point.

Perry is pro-life, period, which is why former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin endorsed Perry earlier this year. Hutchison, on the other hand, is not only pro-choice but was a member of the political action committee “WISH List” until she got serious about running for governor of Texas. Through WISH List, pro-choice Republicans like Hutchison raised money for other pro-choice Republican candidates.

While many Hutchison supporters in the state are trying to downplay the importance of whether a governor is pro-life or pro-choice, they overlook the fact that the parental notification laws Perry signed in June 2005 limit abortions by making it harder for underage girls to turn to abortion as a quick fix for an unwanted pregnancy.

Those who downplay the importance of whether a governor is pro-life or pro-choice also fail to recognize that a politician’s view on the sanctity of life effects many other decisions he or she makes.

For instance, in July 2006, Hutchison’s pro-choice convictions translated into her being one of only a handful of Republicans who voted to override Bush’s opposition to expanded stem cell research. Speaking of her then-pending run for governor, she even said, “[S]tate leaders should develop a stem-cell research policy that keeps Texas from being "left in the dust by California." Perry responded matter-of-factly: “As long as I am the governor of this great state, I will oppose any taxpayer dollars being used and spent on research that ends a human life."

In Texas, where sayings like “God, Guts, and Glory” are still in vogue, it will be interesting to see how Hutchison’s support of McCain’s “terrorists’ bill of rights” plays out. This legislation, which began the move to narrow the Bush administration’s options on detainee interrogation, called for techniques to be limited to those contained in the Army Field Manual: a manual any literate human, including would-be terrorists, can download and read in order to learn what our CIA operatives are or aren’t allowed to do them to obtain information.

It’s also going to be interesting to see how Hutchison’s September 14 absence from the vote to withhold federal funds from ACORN plays out in this race. With so many questions arising about how a federally-funded ACORN may have gathered untold numbers of invalid voters to help Democrats win big in 2008, it seems like a strange time for a sitting senator with gubernatorial aspirations to avoid taking a position on the issue.

Hutchison’s absence on such an important issue for conservatives supports Perry Campaign Spokesman Mark Miner’s emphasis on the “contrast between what’s happening in D.C. and what’s happening in Texas.” In an exclusive interview with HUMAN EVENTS, Miner said: “While the federal government [of which Hutchison is a part] is not only ignoring conservative principles but running the country deeper and deeper in debt, Perry is present when decisions have to be made for Texas and the decisions he makes are fiscally conservative.” As a result, “while other state’s are raising taxes, Governor Perry just cut taxes for 40,000 small businesses and pushed the state’s emergency fund to $9 billion, all with a balanced budget.”

With such stark differences between Hutchison and Perry, Texans need to understand that the 2010 state primary will decide the future of the state’s Republican Party for years to come. Texans ready to move toward a McCain-like moderation will find Hutchison to be the perfect candidate, but those determined to hold to the truest form of conservatism this race offers will flock to Perry’s side.

Either way, things are fixin’ to heat up in Texas.