Gov. Perry Speaks at Tenth Amendment Town Hall

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.”