via Huckfunn

The national spotlight has recently been shining on Texas Governor, Rick Perry, as the GOP field of presidential candidates continues to evolve. Perry has not yet thrown his hat into the ring, but his recent high-profile appearances and speeches lead many to believe that he will announce in the near future that he will run. We’ve seen some debate here as to whether or Perry is a true conservative or just another RHINO so I look forward to our discussion. Here is a video of his speech at the Republican Leadership Convention:

Here is the Wikipedia profile of Rick Perry.

The highlights of his career are:
-Served in the Air Force for 5 years as C-140 pilot.
-First elected to the Texas Legislature as a Democrat in 1984.
-Served as Al Gore’s Texas campaign chairman in the 1988 presidential primaries.
-Elected as Texas Agricultural Commissioner in 1990 and served in that position until 1998.
-Elected as the first Republican Lieutenant Governor in Texas history.
Interesting note; John Sharp, who was Perry’s democrat opponent in this election, was Perry’s roommate at Texas A & M.
-Became Governor of Texas in 2000 upon George Bush’s resignation in order to run for president.
-Re-elected Governor in 2002.
-Re-elected Governor in 2006.
-Re-elected Governor in 2010.
-Currently the long serving Governor in the U.S.

Due in part to the pro-business policies of the 3 Perry terms, 37% of all of new the jobs created in the U.S. since 2009 were in Texas.

As we can see, Perry has a long record of service as a legislator, a department chief and chief executive. Those familiar with Texas politics will argue that the real seat of power in Texas is the lieutenant governor and the governor is little more than a figurehead. That is true to some extent; however the governor has the power of appointment and the power to drive legislation. The following important legislation was signed into law during his terms.

Tort Reform; 2003 – Constitutional amendment to cap medical malpractice awards. That amendment led to a 30% decrease in medical malpractice insurance premiums and a significant increase in doctors seeking to work in Texas.

Tort Reform; 2011 – Loser Pays. Plaintiffs who lose their court cases are now required to pay the court costs and attorney’s fees. Gives greater power for judges to throw out frivolous lawsuits.

Voter ID; 2011 – Voter ID. The legislation requires voters to present one of five acceptable forms of photo ID—a driver’s license, military ID, passport, concealed handgun license or a special voter ID card provided free of charge by the state.

“Controversial Issues”
Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC): Governor Perry proposed a $145 billion initiative to build highways, rail lines and data lines which would cross Texas from Mexico to Oklahoma and from Arkansas to New Mexico. The project would be paid for by converting many highways to toll roads rather taxes. Critics characterize the initiative as a “land grab” and stealth tax hike.

Here is a fairly good summary of the TTC

It appears that the TTC initiative will be defeated in the legislature.

I actually like the toll roads. I put on between 2000 and 3000 business miles per month and they save me time and money over sitting in long lines on the non-toll highways.

Gardasil: Real Clear Politics has a good write up on this issue several weeks ago. Perry’s Gardasil Problem.

“Gardasil was developed to prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV), the most commonly transmitted sexual disease in the United States. In June 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, which is made by the pharmaceutical giant Merck Co. The treatment was initially hailed as a breakthrough in protecting against four strains of HPV that are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts.

In January 2007, Gardasil was put on the “recommended” immunization schedule issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control. Merck immediately mounted a massive lobbying effort of state legislatures around the country to get Gardasil added to their respective lists of state-mandated vaccines.

But in Texas, Gov. Perry chose to bypass the legislature and on Feb. 2, 2007, he issued an executive order making Texas the first state in the country requiring all sixth-grade girls to receive the three-shot vaccination series (which cost about $120 per shot). The move generated a fierce public debate. Conservatives slammed Perry for promoting what they saw as an intrusion by the state into private health decisions of parents and their children. Some also complained that the mandate would encourage promiscuity among teenagers.”

…Snip…

I am totally baffled by the Gardasil thing. I hope he learned something from the experience.

“Intelligent Design”
Rick Perry believes in Intelligent Design and feels that it should be taught as science alongside evolution in the public schools.

“I am a firm believer in intelligent design as a matter of faith and intellect, and I believe it should be presented in schools alongside the theories of evolution. The State Board of Education has been charged with the task of adopting curriculum requirements for Texas public schools and recently adopted guidelines that call for the examination of all sides of a scientific theory, which will encourage critical thinking in our students, an essential learning skill.”

link

Rick Perry is a fundamentalist Christian and I have no problem with that. I also have no problem with Catholics, Methodists, Hindus or Buddhists. However, I don’t want religious views taught in taxpayer funded public schools. Intelligent Design is a religious belief, not science and it has no place in public schools.

I hope that Rick Perry runs for president and if he does I will support him. He is a plain-spoken and charismatic campaigner. He is a proven leader who leads from and sticks to his convictions. Having said that, I realize that he’s a career politician and undoubtedly someone will offer an example of something that he’s flip-flopped on. On the issues, Perry is anti-abortion, pro death penalty, strong on states’ rights, pro-business and pro guns. He packs a pistol and I even saw him one time at the indoor shooting range that I go to in Austin.  He is anti-Global Warming and opposes regulation of “greenhouse” gases. I think that he and Michelle Bachmann would be a terrific team. However, if he runs, I hope that he’ll put the social agenda on the back burner until after the election and sticks with the economic message. He can win as the jobs candidate. Rick Perry is the Anti-Obamney.

-Huckfunn

And in this corner…

via Dolphin

Perry the Progressive

He was a Democrat before changing to the R when he decided that it fit his agenda.

Perry supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and was chairman of the Gore campaign in Texas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Perry

Trans Texas Corridor was Perry’s idea for solving a non-existent traffic issue and promoting the NAFTA treaty making it easier from travel from Mexico through Texas (and beyond). The Corridor would have used eminent domain to take private land, land that was, possibly owned by families for a hundred years or more.

Trans-Texas Corridor -Fact Sheet

Contention: The state will use eminent domain to take private land.

Reality: Under any scenario, the state will need to purchase land to build more roads over the next 50 years. The 5th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and state law, require the state to pay fair market value when purchasing private land for public purposes. If a landowner doesn’t believe an offer to purchase is fair, the law provides they can appeal to special commissioners, and even a district judge, who will decide what is fair.

Several other protections exist in state law to ensure that landowners are fairly compensated. Landowners may retain the development rights of any property purchased by the state, and state law also allows landowners to accept an equity interest in the road rather than a cash payment for their land. Landowners whose land is severed by the Corridor are required to receive damages caused by the severance, including inaccessibility.

Contention: Huge amounts of private land will be taken by the state through eminent domain for superhighway, train, and utility rights-of-way.

Reality: Over the next 50 years, the state, railroads, and utilities, will all need to purchase private land for expansion. By using the Trans Texas Corridor to combine many of these rights of way into one corridor, less total land will be needed. The Corridor will ultimately result in the purchase of less public land than would otherwise be needed to keep up with growth, and all the needed land will be purchased during one process, instead of on a piece-meal basis, as we need to build out infrastructure one project at a time.

In 2007 Perry issued an Executive Order that the HPV vaccine be given to all girls entering the 8th grade. He touted that this was about the concern for future generations not to suffer the disease of Cervical Cancer, however upon further investigation, Perry was getting kick backs from the vaccine maker Merck.

Perry tied to Merck
Perry has ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company’s three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry’s former chief of staff. His current chief of staff’s mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.

The governor also received $6,000 from Merck’s political action committee during his re-election campaign.

Texas governor orders STD vaccine for all girls

Governor Rick Perry of Texas

Texas Governor’s mansion

Rick Perry Rental Mansion Costs Texas $600,000 Amid $11B Budget Shortfall

-Dolphin

From Calo: Rick Perry disapproved by Texans