Rick Perry: Hey Big Spender

Big Tex

Big Tex

Being a Texan and an "Aggie", I would like to be for Governor Rick Perry as President of the United States, but so far, I'm not.  First of all, if he is sincerely serious, he should have announced his candidacy and taken part of the Republican Presidential Debate on August, 11.  Instead, he will announce his run for the presidency in South Carolina.  It makes me think he is just waiting for all of the other candidates to stick their foots in their mouths (a few more times) or crash and burn so he can ride in on his white horse to save the GOP.  The problem is, there's no horse that can carry him AND his inflated wallet. Per the HuffPost in Austin today, "With the state facing a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has spent almost $600,000 in public money during the past two years to live in a sprawling rental home in the hills above the capital, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.  It costs more than $10,000 a month in rent, utilities and upkeep to house Perry in a five-bedroom, seven-bath mansion that has pecan-wood floors, a gourmet kitchen and three dining rooms. Perry has also spent $130,000 in campaign donations to throw parties, buy food and drink, and pay for cable TV and a host of other services since he moved in, the records show."

I don't mind that he's wealthy and spends his own money--especially if it is used to stimulate the economy.  What I DO mind is the parties, food and drink at the taxpayers expense.  It sounds too much like what currently occupies the White House.  Being a politician is being a PUBLIC SERVANT and NOT being a MOVIE STAR.  Again, I see "Poli-Wood" (politics and Hollywood) in action.

See Rick Cut

Gov. Rick Perry

For such a big spender, he sure can make cuts in all the wrong places.  In January of this year, "Public education in Texas is facing billions in proposed budget cuts that would include slashing arts education, pre-kindergarten programs and teacher incentive pay as lawmakers take on a massive deficit with the promise of no new taxes.

Lawmakers got their first glimpse of what the next state budget might look like late Tuesday, including the $5 billion cut to public schools, as Republican Gov. Rick Perry and his supporters were dancing at an inaugural celebration.

Texas is facing a $15 billion revenue shortfall, and few corners of state government were spared in the draft proposal for the next two years. The Texas Constitution requires a balanced budget, and Republican leaders have vowed not to raise taxes."
Yes, a balanced budget is one of the great things about Texas but there were other ways in which to accomplish this requirement.  Rick didn't mind spending on parties, mansion remodels, and excessive utility costs to keep it all afloat.  Really, if he had saved that money, it wouldn't have been necessary to make cuts in public education.

FaceBook Poll Says...
I posted on FaceBook, "Perry is throwing his cowboy hat in the ring...what do ya think?"  

Some responses were:

Bernice of Florida wrote, "Not much."

George W. and Perry

Hellen of Texas commented, "very disappointing after all the talk about the careless spending going on in the white house...he's just another greedy politician, I'm waiting for that one that would actually put the consideration of the people before his own greed ;)"

Bush "Re-Run"
Laura of Texas stated, "He's a re-run of Bush. I wrote and asked him about the illegal alien problem and the response I got was that TX money would be better spent elsewhere. EXCUSE ME?? One third of our inmate population is illegal aliens, and TX has the largest inmate population in America! Illegal aliens flock to our country because we feed them, house them, educate them, and give them free health care. They draw Social Security w/o ever having paid a dime into the system. I would vote for him before I'd vote for Ovomit again but that is all. Bachman or Palin, Santorum, all would be better than Perry! Maybe even Romney."

 Jody of Texas added, "No...do you want my reasoning? Guardasil, Education Funding, Publicly criticizing stimulus money while using it to balance his budget, and touting Texas as having "the best health care in the country" while we have the highest rate of uninsured in the country and rank very high on health care cost too."

So let's talk about the Gardasil controversy since his spending has been addressed.  This is one issue that really makes me angry.  No politician would mandate such a "cause" for my child.  This was none of his business.  It is obvious that Rick Perry's Ties With Merck Run Deep, "Gov. Rick Perry ordered Friday that schoolgirls in Texas must be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, making Texas the first state to require the shots.  The girls will have to get Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass laws in state legislatures across the country mandating it Gardasil vaccine for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country." 

Giving HIM Some Credit
On August 6, Gov. Perry tells prayer rally, "Our heart breaks for America."  
"...addressed a seven-hour prayer and fasting rally in Houston Saturday, which was called to address the nation’s “historic crisis.” Speaking in the late morning, Governor Perry read three portions of scripture and asked for prayers for the nation, President Obama the military, and military families. Frequently choking back tears, Perry addressed “discord at home,” saying “our heart breaks for America … We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government and as a nation, we have forgotten who made us, who protects us, blesses us, and for that we cry out for your forgiveness.”


Disclaimer:  Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author unless otherwise stated.  You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.