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Rick Perry is on the presidential campaign trail touting his record of giving a leg up to corporate special interests as some kind of "Texas miracle" that has created jobs.
In Texas, of course, we know this so-called "miracle" is a tall tale. For most middle-class families, it feels like we're working harder and harder under Gov. Perry, but falling further behind. We have the highest percentage of hourly workers earning minimum wage or less -- and our median household income has fallen to 47th in the nation.
So while the media continues its honeymoon with Rick Perry, those of us who have actually experienced his failed policies firsthand have a personal responsibility to make sure the rest of the country knows the truth about his record. - Hector Nieto - Texas State Director - Obama For America
Perry also prays for a rollback of EPA regulations: "Frankly I pray for the president every day," he recently told CBN News. "I pray for his wisdom. I pray that God will open his eyes. I wish this president would turn back the health-care law that's been passed, ask that his EPA back down all these regulations that are causing businesses to hesitate to spend money."
But Perry's efforts to hog-tie the EPA haven't stopped at prayer. Last year, his administration filed suit against the EPA to block the agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The suit centered on claims that the so-called "Climategate" emails undermined climate science, though the whole Climategate faux-scandal has been thoroughly debunked.
Perry has also fought the EPA in defense of his state's "flexible" air-pollution permits for oil and chemical refineries. And last month, Perry lashed out against an EPA rule that calls for reducing power-plant emissions that drift across state lines, calling it "another example of heavy-handed and misguided action from Washington, D.C., that threatens Texas jobs and families."
As a Texas Republican, Perry is, of course, a friend of the oil and gas industry. He even stuck by BP during the Gulf of Mexico gusher, saying the well blowout was "an act of God" and insisting that he had "full confidence" in the company's response. - Lisa Hymas
And more to come
In Texas, of course, we know this so-called "miracle" is a tall tale. For most middle-class families, it feels like we're working harder and harder under Gov. Perry, but falling further behind. We have the highest percentage of hourly workers earning minimum wage or less -- and our median household income has fallen to 47th in the nation.
So while the media continues its honeymoon with Rick Perry, those of us who have actually experienced his failed policies firsthand have a personal responsibility to make sure the rest of the country knows the truth about his record. - Hector Nieto - Texas State Director - Obama For America
First, we Texans would like to salute the only governor we've got, Rick "Goodhair" Perry, the Ken Doll, for vetoing the bill to outlaw executing the mentally retarded.
We are Texas Proud.
Such a brilliant decision—not only is Texas now globally recognized for barbaric cruelty, but a strong majority of Texans themselves (73 percent) would prefer not to off the retarded.
Gov. Goodhair's decision—in the face of popular opinion, the Supreme Court and George W. Bush's recent conversion on this subject—is a testament to his strength of character.
Or something.
His Perryness announced, anent the veto, that Texas does not execute the retarded. I beg your pardon, Governor. Johnny Paul Penry, now on Death Row for a heart-breaking murder and the subject of two Supreme Court decisions, has an IQ between 51 and 60, believes in Santa Claus and likes coloring books. - Molly Ivins
But Perry's efforts to hog-tie the EPA haven't stopped at prayer. Last year, his administration filed suit against the EPA to block the agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The suit centered on claims that the so-called "Climategate" emails undermined climate science, though the whole Climategate faux-scandal has been thoroughly debunked.
Perry has also fought the EPA in defense of his state's "flexible" air-pollution permits for oil and chemical refineries. And last month, Perry lashed out against an EPA rule that calls for reducing power-plant emissions that drift across state lines, calling it "another example of heavy-handed and misguided action from Washington, D.C., that threatens Texas jobs and families."
As a Texas Republican, Perry is, of course, a friend of the oil and gas industry. He even stuck by BP during the Gulf of Mexico gusher, saying the well blowout was "an act of God" and insisting that he had "full confidence" in the company's response. - Lisa Hymas
And more to come
