State and Local Issues

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today received the endorsement of former Texas Governor Bill Clements for re-election in 2010.

"After careful thought and a deep love for Texas, Rita and I have decided to endorse Gov. Rick Perry for governor. I have watched Gov. Perry lead our state with principled, conservative values that have made Texas a positive example for other states to follow. Gov. Perry has made tough decisions that have brought Texas to the forefront of the global economy, have helped provide Texans the jobs and opportunities they need to prosper. He has vetoed billions in spending, cut taxes for 40,000 small businesses and balanced five state budgets while cutting state spending. Under his leadership, Texas is number one in job creation and has the nation's five best housing markets. His commitment to creating jobs, keeping taxes low and fostering an environment that welcomes and rewards those willing to risk their capital is what will keep our economy moving forward well into the future. Gov. Perry has my full support and endorsement. Sen. Hutchison has been an effective senator for Texas and I hope she remains in that position."

Gov. Clements was the first Republican to serve as Texas governor since Reconstruction. He was the 42nd and 44th governor of Texas serving from 1979 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991. Clements is remembered for bringing his business acumen to state government, and insisting on sound budgeting and management policies. He also worked for tough anti-crime measures, improvements in the teaching of basics in public schools, and made strides to improve Texas relations with Mexico. Clements served as Deputy U.S. Secretary of Defense in the Nixon and Ford administrations.

Mrs. Clements has served on a variety of governmental commissions, including the University of Texas Board of Regents, and on the boards of many philanthropic and public service organizations, including the Salvation Army Dallas Metroplex Advisory Board, Center for Human Nutrition and the Communities Foundation of Texas.

“I am deeply honored to receive Gov. and Mrs. Clements' support in my reelection effort,” said Gov. Perry. "The Clements have made a remarkable and lasting impact on the state of Texas – Bill through his efforts to uphold fiscally prudent policies that strengthened our state’s economic foundation, and Rita through her dedicated, selfless service on various government and philanthropic boards. Their legacy has left us a Texas that is strong and that has the foundation to weather the challenges that the national economy has posed in recent months. I am humbled to follow in Gov. Clements' footsteps as governor of this great state, and inspired by his accomplishments to continue fighting for the principles that have kept taxes low, upheld predictable regulations and maintained a business climate that offers all Texans the freedom to succeed.”

Calls for restoration of state’s sovereignty and increased accountability in Washington

PLANO – Gov. Rick Perry today spoke at the Texas Conservative Coalition’s Tenth Amendment Town Hall to discuss solutions to restore Texas’ constitutional rights and hold Washington accountable for its increasingly intrusive and fiscally irresponsible policies.

“Our voices here in Texas are being joined by a chorus of concerned citizens from across the country frustrated with a federal government that is rewriting the basic rules to expand its power and intrude further into our lives,” said Gov. Perry. “We’re not here to preach rebellion, subversion or insurrection, but to express our love for the greatest country on earth and discuss how to keep it from running off a cliff. We are part of a growing movement in this nation of sensible people from every race, creed and political party who cannot abide the ongoing assault on the values that made our nation great and the freedoms that set us apart.”

Gov. Perry pointed to the president’s newest budget numbers, which anticipate more than $5 trillion in deficits over five years, as the most recent example of the federal government’s ongoing failure to reign in its out-of-control spending. Furthermore, Congress has also sent legislation to the president allowing the U.S. to borrow another $1.9 trillion and hiking the national debt ceiling to an historic $14.3 trillion. These recent fiscal projections, combined with the Inspector General’s report on bailout legislation that points to possible criminal and civil fraud, tax evasion, insider trading, and public corruption, are evidence of the increasing need for stronger accountability in Washington.

“It is well past time for us to halt the endless intrusions into our lives, put a stop to the out-of-control spending and restore our commitment to a set of shared values: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” said Gov. Perry. “It’s time for the federal government to be less intrusive and more respectful of the wishes of the states and their citizens. We know that the route to success is lower taxes, smaller government and freedom for every individual, because it works for Texas.”

Gov. Perry pointed to recent analysis of Texas economist Ray Perryman who has noted that Texas is the “last in and first out” when it comes to the current economic downturn, because of the state’s job growth at the end of 2009 and an unemployment rate that has remained nearly two points below the national average. The Texas Workforce Commission has also reported that Texas created more private sector jobs than any other state in the nation over the last 10 years and has the lowest unemployment rate among the 10 largest states in the nation, while Forbes magazine listed Texas’ debt level as the lowest of the ten largest states. Furthermore, Texas was last week named the top exporting state in the country for the eighth straight year.

The governor also spoke for the need of a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, calling on states to lead the effort in pushing such limits, since leaders in Washington won’t do it on their own. In Texas, Gov. Perry has proposed amending the state’s constitution with two key provisions: requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to approve tax increases and limiting spending growth to the combined growth rates of Texas’ population and inflation. Both measures will ensure the continued fiscal discipline that allowed Texas to balance its budget in 2009, while setting aside billions for its Rainy Day fund and cutting taxes for more than 40,000 small businesses.

“We don’t ask for much: we simply want the powers-that-be in Washington to re-read the Constitution, retreat to the boundaries established by that remarkable document and free up our citizens to compete and prosper,” said Gov. Perry. “If we do this, our nation will remain strong and our state will continue to lead in all the categories that matter.”

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today received the endorsement of Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and national chairman of the Reagan Legacy Project, for re-election in 2010.

“Gov. Perry is the strongest pro-taxpayer governor in the country and a national leader in promoting greater spending transparency in government,” said Norquist. “He has consistently held the line on spending and worked hard to create a low-tax climate that has allowed people in the state of Texas to succeed and thrive. Other states and our nation’s federal government would do well to follow the example Gov. Perry has set which has offered a promising and proven alternative to the one-size-fits-all spending mentality embraced by too many leaders in this country.”

Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes at the federal, state and local levels. ATR organizes the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all tax increases. To date, 172 House members and 34 senators have taken the pledge. On the state level, more than 1100 state legislators and 7 governors, including Gov. Perry, have taken the pledge. Norquist is also a board member of the National Rifle Association of America and the American Conservative Union, and president of the American Society of Competitiveness. He is contributing editor to the American Spectator Magazine and author of Leave Us Alone – Getting the Government’s Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives.

“I’m proud of what we have done in Texas to uphold an environment that has created the freedom for entrepreneurs to risk their capital and reap a reward, by reigning in spending, maintaining low taxes, and upholding a reasonable legal and regulatory climate,” said Gov. Perry. “I look forward to continue working with leaders and officials across our state to uphold these principles and find even more ways to strengthen our economy and attract the jobs, businesses and investment that are crucial to fostering opportunity and prosperity for Texans.”