Grover Norquist Endorses Gov. Perry for Re-election

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.”

Norquist joins the following individuals and organizations in their endorsement of Gov. Perry:

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Texas Alumni of President Ronald Reagan’s Administration
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
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 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 City 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 Chair 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
Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society PAC
Texas Nurses Association
Coalition for Nurses in Advance Practice
Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Texas Nurse Practitioners
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas
Medical Defense PAC
Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas
Texas Chapter of American College of Cardiology HeartPAC
Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas PAC
Associated General Contractors of America Texas Building Branch PAC
Texas Construction Association PAC
Texas Retailers Association PAC
C Club of Houston
Texas Building Owners and Managers Association
Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association
Southwest Movers Association
Texas Academy of Physician Assistants PAC
Michael Reagan
Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association
Texas Hospital Association HOSPAC
Dental Laboratory Association of Texas Board of Directors
Texas Organization of Residential Care Homes
Texas Locksmiths Association
Young Conservatives of Texas
National Rifle Association
Texas State Rifle Association
Boating Trades Association PAC of Texas
Texas Agricultural Aviation Association PAC
Texas Association of Business BACPAC
Associated Security Services and Investigators of the State of Texas
Texas Pharmacy Association Pharm PAC
Texas Ophthalmological Association Executive Council
Texas Economic Development Council PAC
San Antonio Police Officers Association
Pasadena Police Officers Union PAC