Rick Perry: Difference between revisions
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On July 8, 2013, Perry announced that he would not seek re-election to his fourth term in the [[Texas gubernatorial election, 2014|2014 election]], planning to retire instead.<ref name="abclocal1">{{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/state&id=9164598|title=Texas Gov. Rick Perry announces he will not seek re-election in 2014|publisher=KTRK|date=July 8, 2013|accessdate=July 8, 2013}}</ref> Unnamed sources said to be close to Perry told the ''[[National Review]]'' that Perry may focus on another White House bid for 2016.<ref name="nationalreview1">Woodruff, Betsy. (2013-03-19) [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348449/perry-2016-betsy-woodruff Perry 2016? | National Review Online]. Nationalreview.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-12.</ref> |
On July 8, 2013, Perry announced that he would not seek re-election to his fourth term in the [[Texas gubernatorial election, 2014|2014 election]], planning to retire instead.<ref name="abclocal1">{{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/state&id=9164598|title=Texas Gov. Rick Perry announces he will not seek re-election in 2014|publisher=KTRK|date=July 8, 2013|accessdate=July 8, 2013}}</ref> Unnamed sources said to be close to Perry told the ''[[National Review]]'' that Perry may focus on another White House bid for 2016.<ref name="nationalreview1">Woodruff, Betsy. (2013-03-19) [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/348449/perry-2016-betsy-woodruff Perry 2016? | National Review Online]. Nationalreview.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-12.</ref> |
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On August 15, 2014, Perry was [[Indictment|indicted]] on [[felony]] charges for [[abuse of power]]. He was accused of coercing a [[District Attorney]] who had been convicted of [[drunk driving]] to resign by threatening to [[veto]] funding for state public corruption prosecutors.<ref name="indicted">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-perry-indicted-for-coercion-for-veto-threat/2014/08/15/a7bda58a-24ce-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html |title=Perry indicted |publisher=Washington Post |date=15 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://kxan.com/2014/08/15/texas-governor-rick-perry-indicted-by-grand-jury/ | title=Texas Governor Rick Perry indicted by grand jury | accessdate=August 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Gov. Rick Perry is indicted|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-na-pn-rick-perry-indictment-texas-20140815-story.html|publisher=LA times|accessdate=16 August 2014}}</ref> |
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==Early life, education, and military service== |
==Early life, education, and military service== |
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Perry decided not to run for re-election to a fourth full term, announcing on July 8, 2013 that he would retire instead in front of family and supporters at the [[Holt Cat]] Headquarters in [[San Antonio, Texas]].<ref name="abclocal1"/> Perry will retire with the 10th longest gubernatorial tenure in United States history at the end of his term on January 20, 2015 at 5,144 days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2013/07/perry_will_retire_with_10th_lo.php |title=Perry Will Retire with 10th Longest Gubernatorial Tenure in US History |work=Smart Politics |first=Eric |last=Ostermeier |date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> Unnamed sources said to be close to Perry told the [[National Review]] that Perry may focus on another White House bid for 2016.<ref name="nationalreview1"/> |
Perry decided not to run for re-election to a fourth full term, announcing on July 8, 2013 that he would retire instead in front of family and supporters at the [[Holt Cat]] Headquarters in [[San Antonio, Texas]].<ref name="abclocal1"/> Perry will retire with the 10th longest gubernatorial tenure in United States history at the end of his term on January 20, 2015 at 5,144 days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2013/07/perry_will_retire_with_10th_lo.php |title=Perry Will Retire with 10th Longest Gubernatorial Tenure in US History |work=Smart Politics |first=Eric |last=Ostermeier |date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> Unnamed sources said to be close to Perry told the [[National Review]] that Perry may focus on another White House bid for 2016.<ref name="nationalreview1"/> |
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== Indictment for abuse of |
== Indictment for abuse of official capacity == |
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On August 15, 2014, Perry was [[Indictment|indicted]] for abuse of |
On August 15, 2014, Perry was [[Indictment|indicted]] for abuse of official capacity. He vetoed the funding for state public corruption prosecutors when the head of that unit Travis County [[District Attorney]] Rosemary Lehmberg refused to resign after she had been convicted of [[drunk driving]] and cursing out the officers that arrested her.<ref name="FOXNews">[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/15/texas-gov-perry-indicted-for-coercion-for-veto-threat/ FOX News]</ref> The felony indictment includes two charges: abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant.<ref name="FOXNews"/> Republican supporters of the Governor have called the charges political and partisan.<ref name="BizInside08162014">{{cite news |title=Even Liberals Think The Indictment Of Rick Perry Looks Weak |author=Colin Campbell |newspaper=Business Insider |date=August 16, 2014 |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/liberals-criticize-rick-perry-indictment-2014-8#ixzz3AZ2yPug8 |accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref> Many Democratic and liberal critics of Perry have stated that they believe the charges are either weak or unwarranted.<ref name="BizInside08162014"/> |
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According to information on the state comptroller’s web site, the governor’s office has paid David Botsford, a prominent defense lawyer, nearly $80,000 since June.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fernandez|first1=Manny|title=Gov. Rick Perry of Texas Is Indicted on Charge of Abuse of Power|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/us/gov-rick-perry-of-texas-is-indicted-over-veto-of-funds-for-das-office.html?_r=0|publisher=The new York Times|accessdate=16 August 2014}}</ref> |
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His recent indictment might constitute a threat to his presidential aspirations.<ref name="indicted"/> |
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== Political views == |
== Political views == |
Revision as of 15:19, 16 August 2014
This article is about a person involved in a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
Rick Perry | |
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47th Governor of Texas | |
Assumed office December 21, 2000 | |
Lieutenant | Bill Ratliff David Dewhurst |
Preceded by | George W. Bush |
39th Lieutenant Governor of Texas | |
In office January 19, 1999 – December 21, 2000 | |
Governor | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Bob Bullock |
Succeeded by | Bill Ratliff |
9th Commissioner of Agriculture of Texas | |
In office January 15, 1991 – January 19, 1999 | |
Governor | Ann Richards George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Jim Hightower |
Succeeded by | Susan Combs |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 64th district | |
In office January 8, 1985 – January 8, 1991 | |
Preceded by | Joe Hanna |
Succeeded by | John Cook |
Personal details | |
Born | James Richard Perry March 4, 1950 Paint Creek, Texas, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic (Before 1989) Republican (1989–present) |
Spouse | Anita Thigpen (1982–present) |
Children | 1 son 1 daughter |
Residence | Governor's Mansion |
Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
Signature | ![]() |
Website | Official website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1972–1977 |
Rank | ![]() |
Unit | 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron |
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Presidential campaigns
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James Richard "Rick" Perry (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who is the 47th and current governor of Texas. A Republican, he was elected lieutenant governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become president of the United States. Perry is the longest serving governor in Texas state history. As a result, he is the only governor in modern Texas history to have appointed at least one person to every eligible state office, board, or commission position (as well as to several elected offices to which the governor can appoint someone to fill an unexpired term, such as six of the nine current members of the Texas Supreme Court).
Perry was elected to full gubernatorial terms in 2002, 2006 and 2010 and is the fourth Texas governor (after Allan Shivers, Price Daniel, and John Connally) to serve three terms. With a tenure in office to date of 23 years, 266 days, Perry is the second longest serving current U.S. governor – after Terry Branstad of Iowa. Perry served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2008 (succeeding Sonny Perdue of Georgia) and again in 2011.[2]
Perry won the Texas 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary election, defeating U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County Republican Party Chairwoman and businesswoman Debra Medina.[3] In the 2010 Texas gubernatorial election, Perry won a third term by defeating former Houston mayor Bill White and Kathie Glass.[4]
On August 13, 2011, Perry announced in South Carolina that he was running for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2012 presidential election. Perry suspended his campaign in January 2012 and eventually endorsed Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
On July 8, 2013, Perry announced that he would not seek re-election to his fourth term in the 2014 election, planning to retire instead.[5] Unnamed sources said to be close to Perry told the National Review that Perry may focus on another White House bid for 2016.[6]
Early life, education, and military service
A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born on March 4, 1950 in Paint Creek, about 60 miles (97 km) north of Abilene in West Texas, to ranchers Joseph Ray Perry and the former Amelia June Holt. Perry's ancestry is almost entirely English, dating as far back as the original thirteen colonies. His family has been in Texas since before the Texan Revolution.[7][8][9]
His father, a Democrat, was a long-time Haskell County commissioner and school board member. Perry has said that his interest in politics probably began in November 1961, when his father took him to the funeral of U.S. Representative Sam Rayburn (D-TX),[10] who during his long public career served as speaker of the Texas House for a short time at the age of 29 and then later for 17 years as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Perry was in the Boy Scouts (BSA) and earned the rank of Eagle Scout; his son, Griffin, later became an Eagle Scout as well.[11][12] The BSA has honored Perry with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.[13]
Perry graduated from Paint Creek High School in 1968. He then attended Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, was elected senior class social secretary, and was also elected as one of A&M's five yell leaders.[14][15] Perry graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in animal science.[16][17]
Perry said that the Corps of Cadets gave him the discipline to complete his animal sciences degree and earn a commission in the Air Force. In a 1989 interview he said that "I was probably a bit of a free spirit, not particularly structured real well for life outside of a military regime, I would have not lasted at Texas Tech or the University of Texas. I would have hit the fraternity scene and lasted about one semester."[16] Ultimately, Perry was elected a yell leader — a male cheerleader who has traditional responsibilities at major athletic events — and social secretary for his class.[16]
In the early 1970s, Perry interned during several summers with the Southwestern Company, as a door-to-door book salesman. "I count my time working for Dortch Oldham [president of the Southwestern Company] as one of the most important formative experiences of my life," Perry said in 2010. "There is nothing that tests your commitment to a goal like getting a few doors closed in your face." He said that "Mr. Oldham taught legions of young people to communicate quickly, clearly and with passion, a lesson that has served me well in my life since then."[18]
Upon graduation in 1972, Perry was commissioned in the United States Air Force and completed pilot training in February 1974. He was then assigned as a C-130 pilot to the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base. Perry's duties included two-month overseas rotations at RAF Mildenhall in England and Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany. His missions included a 1974 U.S. State Department drought relief effort in Mali, Mauritania and Chad, and two years later, earthquake relief in Guatemala.[19] He left the U.S. Air Force in 1977 with the rank of captain, returned to Texas, and went into business farming cotton with his father.[20]
Early political career
Texas Legislature
In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from district 64, which included his home county of Haskell. He served on the House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three two-year terms in office. He befriended fellow freshman state representative Lena Guerrero of Austin, a staunch liberal Democrat who endorsed Perry's reelection bid in 2006 on personal, rather than philosophical, grounds.
Perry was part of the "Pit Bulls", a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room (or "pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the 1980s.[21] At one point, The Dallas Morning News named him one of the ten most effective members of the legislature.[22]
In 1987, Perry voted for a $5.7 billion tax increase proposed by Republican governor Bill Clements.[23] Perry supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and worked in an unspecified capacity for Gore's campaign in Texas.[24] On September 29, 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties, becoming a Republican.[25]
Agriculture Commissioner
In 1990, as a newly minted Republican, Perry challenged Jim Hightower, the incumbent Democratic Agriculture Commissioner. Hightower had worked on behalf of Jesse Jackson for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, while Perry had supported U.S. Senator Al Gore of Tennessee.
During 1990, Hightower's office was embroiled in an FBI investigation into corruption and bribery. Three aides were convicted in 1993 of using public funds for political fundraising, although Hightower himself was not found to be involved in the wrongdoings.[26] Perry narrowly defeated Hightower in November 1990.
As Agriculture Commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to other states and foreign nations, and for supervising the calibration of weights and measures, such as gasoline pumps and grocery store scales.[27]
In April 1993, Perry, while serving as Texas agriculture commissioner, expressed support for the effort to reform the nation's health care, describing it as "most commendable".[28] The health care plan, first revealed in September, was ultimately unsuccessful due to Republican congressional opposition.[29][30][31][32][33] In 2005, after being questioned on the issue by a potential opponent in the Republican governor primary, Perry said that he expressed his support only in order to get Clinton to pay more attention to rural health care.[34]
In 1994, Perry was reelected Agriculture Commissioner by a large margin, getting 2,546,287 votes (62 percent) to Democrat Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 (36 percent). Libertarian Clyde L. Garland received the remaining 85,836 votes (2 percent).[35] Gregory, a chicken farmer from Sulphur Springs, Texas, was on the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority with Perry in the early nineties, as a Republican. He became a Democrat before running against Perry in 1994.[36]
Lieutenant Governor
In 1998, Perry chose not to seek a third term as Agriculture Commissioner, running instead for Lieutenant Governor to succeed the retiring Democrat Bob Bullock. During this election, Rick Perry had a notable falling out with his previous top political strategist Karl Rove, which began the much-reported rivalry between the Bush and Perry camps.[37] Perry polled 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat John Sharp of Victoria, who had relinquished the Comptroller's position after two terms to seek the lieutenant governorship. Libertarian Anthony Garcia polled another 65,150 votes (1.75 percent).[35] Perry thus became the state's first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction, taking office on January 19, 1999.
Governor of Texas
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/FEMA_-_16240_-_Photograph_by_Ed_Edahl_taken_on_09-27-2005_in_Texas.jpg/220px-FEMA_-_16240_-_Photograph_by_Ed_Edahl_taken_on_09-27-2005_in_Texas.jpg)
Perry assumed the office of governor on December 21, 2000, following the resignation of George W. Bush – who was preparing to become President of the United States.[11] He won the office in his own right in the 2002 gubernatorial election, where he received 57.80% of votes to Laredo oilman and businessman Tony Sanchez's 39.96%.[35] He was re-elected in the 2006 gubernatorial election against three major opponents, polling 39% of votes against runner-up former U.S. Congressman Chris Bell of Houston with 29.8%. In the 2010 gubernatorial election, Perry became the first Texas governor to be elected to three four-year terms, polling 54.97% of votes to former Houston Mayor Bill White's 42.48%.
In his three gubernatorial campaigns, Perry received hard-money campaign contributions of $102 million, half of which came from 204 donors.[38]
In the 2001 legislative session, Perry set a record for his use of the veto, rejecting 82 acts, more than any other governor in any single legislative session in the history of the state since Reconstruction.[39] [40][41]
Fiscal policies
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Rick_Perry_at_Pioneer_013.jpg/220px-Rick_Perry_at_Pioneer_013.jpg)
In his presidential campaign, Perry has highlighted the economic success Texas achieved under his governorship, although the true success of his policies has been questioned.[42][43][44][45][46][47] A proclaimed proponent of fiscal conservatism, Perry has often campaigned on job growth and tax issues, such as his opposition to creating a state income tax. Perry refused in 2002 to promise not to raise taxes as governor, and in the following years did propose or approve various tax and debt[48] increases.[49][50][51][52] In 2009, Perry signed Grover Norquist's pledge to "oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes".
Texas began borrowing money in 2003 to pay for roads and will owe $17.3 billion by the end of 2012, increasing total state debt, from $13.4 billion in 2001 to $37.8 billion in 2011.[53] The state's public finance authority sold $2 billion in bonds for unemployment benefits, and it's authorized to sell $1.5 billion more if necessary. Texas federal borrowing topped $1.6 billion in October 2010, before the bond sales.[54] Texans voted November 8, 2011 for a Water Works Bill with an additional $6 billion of debt and against new tax breaks for landowners.[55] A Republican on the Natural Resources Committee laments “we couldn’t get the votes” which would break Perry's pledge not to raise taxes.[56]
In 2003, Perry signed legislation that created the Texas Enterprise Fund, which has since given $435 million in grants to businesses. The New York Times reported that many of the companies receiving grants, or their chief executives, have made contributions to Perry's campaigns or to the Republican Governors Association.[57] Perry has been criticized for supporting corporate tax breaks and other incentives, while the state government was experiencing budget deficits.[58][59]
Health
As governor, Perry has been an outspoken opponent of federal health-care reform proposals and of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, describing the latter as "socialism on American soil".[60] Perry's focus in Texas has been on tort reform, signing a bill in 2003 which restricted non-economic damages in medical malpractice judgments.[61] Perry touted this approach in his Presidential campaign, although independent analysts have concluded that it has failed to increase the supply of physicians or limit health-care costs in Texas.[60][62]
During Perry's governorship, Texas rose from second to first among states with the highest proportion of uninsured residents at 26%, and had the lowest level of access to prenatal care in the U.S.[60] Perry and the state legislature have cut Medicaid spending.[60][63] The Los Angeles Times wrote that under Perry, "working Texans increasingly have been priced out of private healthcare while the state's safety net has withered."[63]
Perry's office has said that Texas represents a model private-sector approach to health-care. His spokeswoman stated that "Texas does provide an adequate safety net to those truly in need... and many individuals simply choose not to purchase healthcare coverage."[63]
Perry is pro-life and has signed bills with rules or restrictions for abortion procedures and funding for them.[64][65] In December 2011, Perry said he had undergone a "transformation" and now opposed all abortions, including in cases of rape and incest. The next day he clarified that he would allow an exception for abortions that would save a mother's life.[66][67]
In February 2007, Perry issued an executive order mandating that Texas girls receive the HPV vaccine, which protects against some strains of the human papilloma virus, a contributing factor to some forms of cervical cancer.[68] Following the move, news outlets reported various apparent financial connections between Perry and the vaccine's manufacturer, Merck.[68][69] Merck's political action committee has contributed $28,500 since 2001 to Perry's campaigns.[70] The order was criticized by some parents and social conservatives, and a lawsuit was filed later that month.[71] In May 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a bill undoing the order; Perry did not veto the bill, saying the veto would have been overruled, but blamed lawmakers who supported the bill for the deaths of future cancer victims.[72]
In 2011, Governor Perry both had adult stem cell surgery, in Houston by Dr. Jones, and started "laying the groundwork" for the commercialization of the adult stem cell industry in Texas.[73][74]
Religion
Perry grew up in the United Methodist Church, and he and his family were members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church until 2010, when Perry and his family began attending the Austin-based non-denominational evangelical megachurch, Lake Hills Church.
In 2006, Perry stated that he believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and that those who do not accept Jesus as their savior will go to hell. A couple of days later, he clarified, "I don't know that there's any human being that has the ability to interpret what God and his final decision-making is going to be."[75]
In his 2008 book On My Honor, Perry expressed his views on the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution. "Let's be clear: I don't believe government, which taxes people regardless of their faith, should espouse a specific faith. I also don't think we should allow a small minority of atheists to sanitize our civil dialogue on religious references."[76]
In June 2011, Perry proclaimed August 6 as a Day of Prayer and Fasting, inviting other governors to join him in a prayer meeting hosted by the American Family Association in Houston.[77][78] The event was criticized as going beyond prayer and fasting to include launching Perry's presidential campaign.[79]
Perry has called himself "a firm believer in intelligent design as a matter of faith and intellect", and has expressed support for its teaching alongside evolution in Texas schools, but has also said that "educators and local school officials, not the governor, should determine science curriculum."[80]
Education
Perry has repeatedly attacked the Robin Hood plan to provide court-mandated equitable school financing for all school districts in the state. In 2005, following rejection of Perry's proposal to replace the Robin Hood plan, Perry vetoed all funding for public schools for the 2007–2008 biennium, saying he would not "approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and education reforms. And I cannot let $2 billion sit in some bank account when it can go directly to the classroom."[81] Following a second rejection of Perry's bill, Perry asked John Sharp to head a task force charged with preparing a bipartisan education plan, which was subsequently adopted.[82][83]
In 2001, Perry expressed his pride in the enactment of the statute extending in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who meet Texas' residency requirements. It also required the undocumented students to pledge to apply for permanent residency or citizenship if this became a possibility for them.[84]
Homosexuality
In 2002, Perry described the Texas same-sex anti-sodomy law as "appropriate".[85] The United States Supreme Court's civil rights decision in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) struck down the statute Perry referred to the following year for violating the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Perry supported the 2005 ballot proposition which amended the Texas constitution by defining marriage as "only a union between a man and a woman" and prohibiting the state from creating or recognizing "any legal status identical or similar to marriage".[86] In 2011, after New York legalized same-sex marriage, Perry stated that it was their right to do so under the principle of states' rights delineated in the Tenth Amendment.[87] A spokesman later reiterated Perry's support for a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, saying that position was not inconsistent since an amendment would require approval by three-fourths of the states.[88]
In his first book, On My Honor, published in 2008, Perry drew a parallel between homosexuality and alcoholism, writing that he is "no expert on the 'nature versus nurture' debate", but that gays should simply choose abstinence.[89] During the 2012 presidential campaign, he criticized the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell".[90] He said that using foreign aid as a policy tool against foreign countries which do not give full rights to homosexuals was “not in America’s interests”.[91]
Perry, an Eagle Scout, has called on the Boy Scouts to continue their ban on homosexuality and blamed America for not living up to the ideals of the scouts.[92]
Crime
Perry's campaigns for lieutenant governor and governor focused on a tough stance on crime. He has supported block grants for crime programs.[93]
Jeff L. Blackburn, chief counsel of the Innocence Project of Texas, said of Perry that "He has done more good than any other governor we've ever had ... unless, of course, it involves the death penalty. On the death penalty, Rick Perry has a profound mental block."[94]
In 2007, Perry signed a law ending automatic arrest for cannabis possession.[95]
Death penalty
Perry supports the death penalty.[96] In June 2002, he vetoed a ban on the execution of mentally retarded inmates.[93] As of April 27, 2014, there have been 275 executions since Perry first took office in 2000. [97]
Cases in which Perry has been criticized for his lack of intervention include those of Cameron Todd Willingham, Frances Newton, and Mexican nationals José Medellín and Humberto Leal Garcia.[98][99][100][101]
Perry commuted the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, who was convicted of murder despite evidence that he was only present at the scene of the crime. Foster was convicted under a Texas law that makes co-conspirators liable in certain cases of homicide. In this case, it tied Foster to the triggerman. Perry raised doubts about the law and urged the legislature to re-examine the issue. “I believe the right and just decision is to commute Foster’s sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment,” Perry said in a statement at the time.[102]
Infrastructure
In 2001, Perry proposed the Trans-Texas Corridor, a $145+ billion-dollar project that would build multi-lane highways, rail lines and data lines from Oklahoma to Mexico, and from east to west in southern Texas. Instead of paying for the project with taxes, Perry proposed that it be partially financed, partially built and wholly operated by private contractors, who would subsequently receive all toll proceeds.[103] All of Perry's gubernatorial opponents opposed the corridor project, as did the 2006 state party platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties.[104][105] After much contentious debate between supporters and opponents, an official decision of "no action" was issued by the Federal Highway Administration on July 20, 2010, formally ending the project.
Gun ownership
Perry has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association.[106] He possesses a Concealed Handgun License (CHL)[107] and has signed a number of bills that increased CHL access.[108]
2012 presidential campaign
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/RickPerry_Iowa_Fair.jpg/220px-RickPerry_Iowa_Fair.jpg)
Until 2011, Perry persistently denied aspirations to higher office; he was originally included on the 2012 presidential straw poll ballot at the Values Voter Summit in September 2009, but his name was removed at his request.[109] In April 2008 while appearing as a guest on CNBC's Kudlow & Company, he specifically stated that he would not agree to serve as Vice President in a McCain administration, stating that he already had "the best job in the world" as governor of Texas. Further, during a Republican gubernatorial debate in January 2010, when asked if he would commit to serving out his term if re-elected, he replied that "the place hasn't been made yet" where he would rather serve than the governor of Texas. In December 2010, when asked if he was a "definite maybe" to run for president in 2012, he replied, "a definite no, brother".[110]
On May 27, 2011, he said he was "going to think about" running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination after the close of the Texas legislative session.[111] Perry said in a response to a question from a reporter, "but I think about a lot of things", adding a grin.[112]
On August 11, a Perry spokesman said that he would be running for president in 2012, with plans to announce his formal entry into the race the next day.[113][114] Perry himself confirmed it on a visit to KVUE, the ABC affiliate in Austin. As the Associated Press bulletin announcing his entry into the race came across the wire, Perry signed and dated a printed copy of the bulletin.[115]
On August 13, Perry officially announced that he would be running for president.[116]
After announcing his candidacy, Perry immediately became a serious contender in the race, with a poll released by Rasmussen Reports on August 16, 2011, showing him leading in the Republican field at 29 percent, with the eventual Republican nominee Mitt Romney at a distant second at 18 percent and the then-front runner Michele Bachmann at 13 percent.[117] Perry hoped that Texas' own record of job growth in contrast to the rest of the country could persuade voters that he could reverse the economic downturn.[118] However, by September Perry's campaign began to suffer following a number of poor debate performances. Perry suffered further following a November 2011 debate in which he was unable to name one of the three government agencies that he would eliminate as president; he later identified the third agency as the Department of Energy.[119]
In October 2011, the Washington Post reported that Perry's family leases a hunting camp once called "Niggerhead". According to some local residents interviewed by the Post, the Perrys used the camp for years before painting over a large rock with that name on it, which stands at an entrance to the area, and during this time Perry hosted friends and supporters at the camp.[120] Perry's campaign disputed the claims, stating that the Perrys painted over the rock almost immediately after acquiring a lease on the property in 1983.[121][122] The Washington Post news reporter filing the October 1, 2011, news report interviewed seven people "...who spoke in detail of their memories of seeing the rock with the name at various points during the years that Perry was associated with the property through his father, partners or his signature on a lease".[123]
On December 6, Perry released a presidential campaign video on YouTube called "Strong" discussing his religious beliefs, as well as criticism of Obama's governance.[124] The video states "there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military, but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school." The video was widely criticized in the on-line community and received over 750,000 dislikes on YouTube.[125]
Perry came in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses and skipped the New Hampshire primary. With polls showing Perry trailing in the upcoming South Carolina primary, Perry announced on January 19, 2012, that he would be dropping out of the 2012 presidential race. Perry initially endorsed Newt Gingrich, but then endorsed Mitt Romney in April after Gingrich announced that he was suspending his campaign.[126]
In September 2012, an article stated that Perry "had major health issues too – a serious but previously undiagnosed sleep disorder [sleep apnea] that was discovered just as the front-runner label was slipping from his hands", which contributed to his losing the candidacy. According to the article, Perry also suffered from restless legs syndrome.[127]
Political future
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Rick_Perry_by_Gage_Skidmore_9.jpg/220px-Rick_Perry_by_Gage_Skidmore_9.jpg)
By the end of his third full term, he will have served up to 14 consecutive years in office once his third full term expires. The University of Texas at Austin–Texas Tribune Poll released on June 17, 2013, showed Perry leading potential primary challenger Attorney General Greg Abbott by double digits, 45–19%.[128] In February, the same poll had Perry leading by a 3-to-1 margin (49–17%) of 32 points over Abbott.[129]
Perry decided not to run for re-election to a fourth full term, announcing on July 8, 2013 that he would retire instead in front of family and supporters at the Holt Cat Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas.[5] Perry will retire with the 10th longest gubernatorial tenure in United States history at the end of his term on January 20, 2015 at 5,144 days.[130] Unnamed sources said to be close to Perry told the National Review that Perry may focus on another White House bid for 2016.[6]
Indictment for abuse of official capacity
On August 15, 2014, Perry was indicted for abuse of official capacity. He vetoed the funding for state public corruption prosecutors when the head of that unit Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg refused to resign after she had been convicted of drunk driving and cursing out the officers that arrested her.[131] The felony indictment includes two charges: abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant.[131] Republican supporters of the Governor have called the charges political and partisan.[132] Many Democratic and liberal critics of Perry have stated that they believe the charges are either weak or unwarranted.[132]
Political views
See: Political positions of Rick Perry
Books
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Rick_Perry_book.jpg/220px-Rick_Perry_book.jpg)
Rick Perry has written two books:
- On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For was published in February 2008.[133] It celebrates the positive impact of the organization on the youth of America and criticizes the ACLU for its legal actions against the Boy Scouts of America.[134]
- Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington, was written with senior advisor Chip Roy and published in November 2010.[135] It discusses his support for limited central government.
Speeches
Perry has given a number of speeches, including one at the Heritage Foundation on the proper role of the federal government and the military in disaster management.[136] This speech was given a few months' after Hurricane Katrina.
Personal life
In 1982, Perry married Anita Thigpen, his childhood sweetheart whom he had known since elementary school. They have two grown children, Griffin and Sydney. Anita Perry attended West Texas State University and earned a degree in nursing. She has spearheaded a number of health-related initiatives such as the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease, health education, and early childhood development.[137] Anita has also helped develop and host the Texas Conference for Women.[138]
Perry has played himself in minor roles for several feature films, including Man of the House, Deep in the Heart, and Hating Breitbart.
In 2001, the American Cowboy Culture Association, based in Lubbock, handed Perry its "The Top Cowboy of Texas" award. In accepting the honor, Perry cited the importance of his father, Ray Perry, and a former neighbor in Haskell County, the late Watt R. Matthews (born 1899), who Perry said taught him "not only about Texas and [its] history ... but also about the importance of the values that we learned growing up in a rural environment".[139]
Perry is also a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and won their Gold Good Citizenship Medal.
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Perry (Incumbent) | 2,617,106 | 58.1 | ||
Democratic | Tony Sanchez | 1,809,915 | 40.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Perry (Incumbent) | 1,716,792 | 39.02 | −19.08 | |
Democratic | Chris Bell | 1,310,337 | 29.78 | −10.52 | |
Independent | Carole Keeton Strayhorn | 796,851 | 18.11 | ||
Independent | Richard “Kinky” Friedman | 547,674 | 12.44 | ||
Libertarian | James Werner | 26,749 | 0.60 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Perry (Incumbent) | 2,733,784 | 54.97 | +15.95 | |
Democratic | Bill White | 2,102,606 | 42.28 | +12.50 | |
Libertarian | Kathie Glass | 109,057 | 2.19 | ||
Green | Deb Shafto | 19,475 | 0.39 | ||
Independent | Andy Barron (Write-In) | 7,973 | 0.16 |
References
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- ^ a b Woodruff, Betsy. (2013-03-19) Perry 2016? | National Review Online. Nationalreview.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-12.
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{{cite news}}
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- ^ "Rick Perry's four economic vulnerabilities - TODAY News - TODAY.com". Today.msnbc.msn.com. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
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- ^ Texas Department of Transportation (State of Texas). "Proposition 12 (General Obligation Bond Projects)". Txdot.gov. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
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- ^ "The Texas pole tax". The Economist. January 3, 2008.
- ^ "Gov. Perry Signs Landmark Business Tax Reform" (Press release). Office of the Governor. May 18, 2006. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
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- ^ Galbraith, Kate (November 9, 2011). "Texas Water Propositions Meet Different Fates". Texas Tribune.
- ^ Mildenberg, David; McFerron, Whitney (October 14, 2011). "Texans Face Billions in Water Works Bills as Drought Saps Perry's Economy". Bloomberg.
- ^ Perry Mines Texas System to Raise Cash, by Nicholas Confessore and Michael Lu, New York Times, August 20, 2011.
- ^ Luhby, Tami (2011-01-19). "Even budget deficits are bigger in Texas". Money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
- ^ "Lines Blur as Texas Gives Industries a Bonanza."
- ^ a b c d Sack, Kevin (September 3, 2011). "G.O.P. Candidates' Stances on Health Care Mask Their Records as Governors". New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ Blumenthal, Ralph (September 15, 2003). "Malpractice Suits Capped at $750,000 in Texas Vote". New York Times.
- ^ Paik, Myungho; Black, Bernard S.; Hyman, David A.; Silver, Charles M. (July 16, 2010). "Will Tort Reform Bend the Cost Curve? Evidence from Texas". Social Science Research Network. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Levey, Noam (September 8, 2011). "Texas healthcare system withering under Gov. Perry". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ "Rick Perry Gets A Grade on Abortion From Texas Pro-Life Groups". LifeNews.com. 2011-06-10. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ July 21st, 2011 (2011-07-21). "Texas Gov. Rick Perry Signs Bill De-Funding Planned Parenthood". Catholic Tide. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Saenz, Arlette. "Rick Perry Clarifies Abortion Stand, Mother’s Life Only Exception." ABC News, 28 December 2011.
- ^ Philpott, Ben. "Rick Perry Pivots on Abortion." KUT News, 27 December 2011.
- ^ a b Carney, Timothy (June 21, 2011) "Rick Perry's mixed record on regulatory robbery", The Washington Examiner
- ^ Peterson, Liz Austin (February 22, 2007). "Perry's staff discussed vaccine on day Merck donated to campaign". Austin American-Statesman. Associated Press. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Mason, Melanie. "Rick Perry understated drug company campaign cash." Los Angeles Times, September 13, 2011.
- ^ "Texas Families Seek to Block Gov's Order". Newsmax Media. Associated Press. February 25, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
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- ^ Ramshaw, Emily (2011-08-04). "Perry, Allies Lay Groundwork for TX Stem Cell Industry". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ^ Maslin Nir, Sarah (2011-08-04). "Rick Perry Has Stem Cell Procedure, Then Works to Bring it to Texas". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ^ Hoppe, Christy (November 6, 2006). "Perry believes non-Christians doomed". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
- ^ Perry, Rick (2008). On My Honor. Macon, GA: Stroud & Hall Publishers. p. 88. ISBN 0-9796462-2-7.
- ^ Perry, Rick (June 6, 2011). "Gov. Perry Declares August 6th a Day of Prayer". Office of the Governor. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ Bacon, Perry, Jr.; Henderson, Nia-Malika (August 5, 2011). "Texas Gov. Rick Perry to host major prayer event in Houston". The Washington Post.
- ^ Fikac, Peggy (August 19, 2011). "Email on voting prompts questions about Perry prayer event". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ "2010 The Vote: K-12 Education". San Angelo Standard-Times. September 11, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
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- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Gov. Perry's Principles For A Stronger Texas" (PDF). Office of the Governor – Rick Perry – Governor.state.tx.us. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Perry, Rick (August 22, 2001). "Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks to the Border Summit". Office of the Governor. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "Perry calls sodomy law 'appropriate'". Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. December 4, 2002. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ Elliott, Janet (November 8, 2005). "Same-sex marriage ban wins OK". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Jennifer (July 23, 2011). "Perry defends gay marriage as states' choice; Santorum takes a swipe". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ Barabak, Mark Z. (July 28, 2011). "Rick Perry contorts over same-sex marriage". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ Benjamin, Mark (August 24, 2011). "Perry Compared Homosexuality to Alcoholism in 2008 Book". Time. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
- ^ Stein, Sam (December 8, 2011). "Rick Perry's Anti-Gay Iowa Ad Divides His Top Staff". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ^ "Rick Perry Says Human Rights for Gays 'Not in America's Interests'". Abcnews.go.com. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
- ^ "Perry Fights Letting Gays in Boy Scouts."
- ^ a b "Public Notes on 01-NGA10". On The Issues. September 14, 2001. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Sontag, Deborah (October 30, 2011). "Perry Displays Varied Stance Toward Crime". The New York Times.
- ^ Yoder, Steve (November 7, 2011). "The GOP, 'tough on crime' no more?" Salon.
- ^ Thomas, Evan; Brant, Martha (November 10, 2007). "Injection of Reflection". Newsweek. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ^ "Death Row Information: Executed Offenders". Texas Dept of Criminal Justice. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ^ "From arson to politics: Why has Texas's governor derailed a death-penalty investigation?". The Economist. October 22, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ Grann, David (January 7, 2009). "Cameron Todd Willingham, Texas, and the death penalty". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Frances Elaine Newton #982". Clarkprosecutor.org. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Graczyk, Michael (July 8, 2011). "Criticism of Texas' execution of Mexican Leal doesn't bother Perry". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/31/us/31execute.html?_r=0
- ^ "Trans-Texas Corridor: FAQs". Texas Department of Transportation. 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
- ^ "2006 State Republican Party Platform" (PDF). Texas Republican Party. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "2006 Texas Democratic Party Platform" (PDF). 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "Rick Perry's unwavering support for gun rights could boost his presidential prospects". Nra-Ila. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "'Wily' coyote no match for governor's gun". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "Gov. Perry Signs Bills to Protect Gun Owners' Rights". Office of the Governor Rick Perry – Governor.state.tx.us. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "Texas Gov. Rick Perry pulled out of conservative straw poll". CNN. September 18, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Quote of the Day". Political Wire. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ "Texan Perry to 'think about' a 2012 White House run". The Washington Times. May 27, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ Gutierrez, Kris (May 27, 2011). "President Perry? Texas Governor to 'Think About it'". Fox News. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
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- ^ "Rick Perry to run for president, spokesman says". CBS News. Associated Press. August 11, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ Bergamo, Jim (August 11, 2011). "Spokesman says Perry running for president". Austin, TX: KVUE.
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- ^ "GOP Primary: Perry 29%, Romney 18%, Bachmann 13%". http://www.rasmussenreports.com. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|publisher=
- ^ Parker, Ashley. "Promising Better Direction, Perry Enters Race". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
- ^ Montopoli, Brian. "Republican debate winners and losers: A disastrous night for Perry". CBS News. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
- ^ McCrummen, Stephanie (October 1, 2011). "At Rick Perry's Texas hunting spot, camp's old racially charged name lingered". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
- ^ Burns, Alexander (October 2, 2011). "Perry team pushes back on Herman Cain criticism". Politico. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
- ^ "Republican Rick Perry in hunting lodge race row". BBC News. October 3, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/rick-perry-familys-hunting-camp-still-known-to-manyby-old-racially-charged name/2011/10/01/gIQAOhY5DL_story_1.html "At Rick Perry’s Texas hunting spot, camp's old racially charged name lingered". Washington Post.
- ^ RPerry2012 (2011-12-06). "Strong Campaign YouTube Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ George, Alison (2011-12-09). "Rick Perry Ad Generating Epic Hate on YouTube". Slate. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ^ Zeleny, Jeff; Shear, Michael D. (January 19, 2012). "Perry to End Bid for Presidency". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ Root, Jay (September 23, 2012). "The Oops Diaries: Sleep Disorder Helped Derail Perry". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
- ^ UT/TT Poll: Texans Favor Cruz Over Perry for President. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved on 2013-08-12.
- ^ UT/TT Poll: Perry Starts Ahead of Abbott in 2014 Race. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved on 2013-08-12.
- ^ Ostermeier, Eric (July 8, 2013). "Perry Will Retire with 10th Longest Gubernatorial Tenure in US History". Smart Politics.
- ^ a b FOX News
- ^ a b Colin Campbell (August 16, 2014). "Even Liberals Think The Indictment Of Rick Perry Looks Weak". Business Insider. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Perry, Rick (February 2008). On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For. Stroud & Hall. ISBN 978-0-9796462-2-5.
- ^ Selby, W. Gardner (2008-02-09). "In first book, Perry criticizes ACLU and defends Boy Scouts". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ Perry, Rick (November 2010). Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-13295-4.
- ^ Perry, Rick (November 2005). Federalizing Disaster Response. Heritage Foundation.
- ^ "Endowment named for First Lady Anita Perry – The News – University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio". Uthscsa.edu. 2001-06-15. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Giles, Mike. "Governor Rick Perry Leads Texas by Faith". DFW Christian Family. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ {{cite news|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/102401/loc_1024010044.shtml%7Cfirst=Dirk%7Clast=Fillpot%7Ctitle=Perry becomes a driving force|date=October 24, 2001|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|accessdate=September 5, 2013}}
- ^ "Texas Board of Elections as of July 24, 2009". Elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
External links
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- Governor Rick Perry official state site
- Texans for Rick Perry official campaign site
- Rick Perry at Curlie
- Media coverage
- The Perry Trap at The Austin Chronicle
- Collected news and commentary at The Economist
- Collected news and commentary at Fox News
- Collected news and commentary at the Houston Chronicle
- Collected news and commentary at the Texas Monthly
- Collected news and commentary at The Texas Observer
- Collected news and commentary at The Texas Tribune
- The Perry Watch at The Dallas Morning News
- Rick Perry 2012 at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Current events
- 1950 births
- Agriculture commissioners of Texas
- American evangelicals
- American farmers
- American people of English descent
- American military personnel of the Vietnam War
- Distinguished Eagle Scouts
- Federal Emergency Management Agency critics
- Governors of Texas
- Lieutenant Governors of Texas
- Living people
- Members of the Texas House of Representatives
- People from Haskell County, Texas
- Republican Party state governors of the United States
- Rick Perry
- Texas A&M University alumni
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- United States presidential candidates, 2012