James Richard "Rick" Perry (born March 4, 1950) is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. Perry, a Republican, 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 was elected to full gubernatorial terms in 2002, 2006 and 2010. With a tenure in office to date of &1000000000000001100000011 years, &10000000000000188000000188 days, Perry is the longest continuously serving current U.S. governor, and 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.[3] 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 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.[4] In the 2010 Texas gubernatorial election, Perry won a third term by defeating former Houston mayor Bill White and Kathie Glass.[5]
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. On January 19, 2012, Perry announced he would be suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination, and endorsed Newt Gingrich.
A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born 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.[6][7][8]
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),[9] 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, would later become an Eagle Scout as well.[10][11] The BSA has honored Perry with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.[12]
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.[13][14] Perry graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in animal science.[15][16]
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."[15] Perry was a prankster in college: he once placed live chickens in the closet of an upperclassman during Christmas break and used M-80 firecrackers to prank students using the toilet.[15]
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."[17]
Upon graduation in 1972, Perry was commissioned in the 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.[18] He left the Air Force in 1977 with the rank of captain, returned to Texas, and went into business farming cotton with his father.[19]
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.[20] At one point, The Dallas Morning News named him one of the ten most effective members of the legislature.[21]
In 1987, Perry voted for a $5.7 billion tax increase proposed by Republican governor Bill Clements.[22] Perry supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and worked in an unspecified capacity for Gore's campaign in Texas.[23] In 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties, becoming a Republican.[24]
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 a 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.[25] 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.[26]
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".[27] The health care plan, first revealed in September, was ultimately unsuccessful due to Republican congressional opposition.[28][29][30][31][32] 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.[33]
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).[34] 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.[35]
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.[36] 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).[34] Perry thus became the state's first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction, taking office on January 19, 1999.
President George W. Bush and Texas Governor Rick Perry shake hands after a question and answer session at the Port Arthur airport. Port Arthur was hit hard by Hurricane Rita.
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.[10] He won the office in his own right in the 2002 gubernatorial election, where he received 57.80% of votes to businessman Tony Sanchez's 39.96%.[34] He was re-elected in the 2006 gubernatorial election against three major opponents, polling 39% of votes against runner-up Chris Bell 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 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.[37]
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.[38] [39][40]
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.[41][42][43][44][45][46] 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[47] increases.[48][49][50][51] 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.[52] 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.[53] Texans voted November 8, 2011 for a Water Works Bill with an additional $6 billion of debt and against new tax breaks for landowners.[54] A Republican on the Natural Resources Committee laments “we couldn’t get the votes” which would break Perry's pledge not to raise taxes.[55]
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.[56]
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".[57] Perry's focus in Texas has been on tort reform, signing a bill in 2003 which restricted non-economic damages in medical malpractice judgments.[58] 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.[57][59]
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.[57] Perry and the Republican-led state legislature have cut Medicaid spending and made it more difficult to enroll in the program, which currently covers one-third of Texas children.[57] The cost of caring for uninsured Texans has been borne by those with insurance, leading to substantial rises in insurance premiums and leading Texas to rank next-to-last among states in terms of affordability of health insurance.[60] 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."[60]
Perry's office has argued 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."[60]
Perry is pro-life and has signed multiple bills creating new rules or restrictions for abortion procedures and funding for such.[61][62] These bills include a May 2010 law requiring that a sonogram be performed prior to every abortion, and that the practitioner discuss the sonogram images with the patient except in limited cases where the patient may waive the explanation.[63][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 himself, in Houston by Dr. Jones, and started "laying the groundwork" for the commercialization of the adult stem cell industry in Texas.[73][74]
Perry grew up in the Methodist church, until 2010 when he began attending Lake Hills Church in Austin.[2] 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. He later 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. "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]
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]
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 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 10th 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]
Perry's campaigns for lieutenant governor and governor focused on a tough stance on crime. He has supported block grants for crime programs.[91]
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".[92]
In 2007, Perry signed a law ending automatic arrest for marijuana possession.[93]
Perry supports the death penalty.[94] In June 2002, he vetoed a ban on the execution of mentally retarded inmates.[91] As of August 10, 2011, Texas has carried out 234 executions since Rick Perry became governor.[95] 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.[96][97][98][99]
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.[100] Perry also pardoned Tyrone Brown, who was sentenced to life in a Texas maximum security prison for smoking marijuana while on probation.[101] Perry's actions in both these cases were following the recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.[100][101]
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.[102] All of Perry's gubernatorial opponents opposed the corridor project, as did the 2006 state party platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties.[103][104] 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.
Perry has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association.[105] He possesses a Concealed Handgun License (CHL)[106] and has signed a number of bills that increased CHL access.[107]
Perry campaigning at the Iowa State Fair
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 own request.[108] 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".[109]
On May 27, 2011, he said he is "going to think about" running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination after the close of the Texas legislative session.[110] Perry said in a response to a question from a reporter, "but I think about a lot of things," he added with a grin.[111]
On August 11, a Perry spokesman said that he will be running for President in 2012, with plans to announce his formal entry into the race the next day, August 12.[112][113] 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.[114]
On August 13, Perry officially announced that he will be running for president.[115]
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.[116] 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.[117][118]
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.[119] The video states "there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military, but your kids can't openly celebrate Christmas." The video has been largely criticised in the on-line community and has received over 750,000 dislikes on YouTube.[120]
Perry announced on January 19, 2012, that he would be dropping out of the 2012 Presidential Race, publicly endorsing Newt Gingrich.[121] However on April 25, 2012, Perry endorsed Mitt Romney after Gingrich announced that he drop out a week later.
See: Political positions of Rick Perry
Governor Rick Perry of Texas at a book signing at the Republican Leadership Conference in
New Orleans, Louisiana
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.[122] In his book, Perry 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.[123]
- His second book, Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington was published in November 2010.[124] Perry's second book discusses his support for limited central government.
Perry has also written a lecture about the role of the federal government and the military in disaster management titled Federalizing Disaster Response.[125]
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.[126] Anita has also helped develop and host the Texas Conference for Women.[127]
- ^ Selby, W. Gardner; Novak, Shonda (September 27, 2007), "Rent will run about $10,000 a month for house on Hickory Creek Drive.", Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/09/27/0927house.html, retrieved May 19, 2011
- ^ a b Joshunda Sanders, Jason Embry. "Candidates attending more than one church". Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/governors_race/candidates-mirror-population-in-attending-more-than-one-1009306.html. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ "RGA Announces New Leadership". Republican Governors Association. 2010-11-18. http://www.rga.org/homepage/rga-announces-new-leadership/. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ^ "Texas Governor Profile". The New York Times. http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/governor/texas. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ a b "TX Governor Race - Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=404248. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
- ^ "rick perry". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/celeb/perry.htm. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ^ politicks Org. "Perry's Ancestry". 2012.republican-candidates.org. http://2012.republican-candidates.org/Perry/Ancestry.php. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ^ "Surname Database: Perry Last Name Origin". Surnamedb.com. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Perry. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ^ "Richard L. Connor: Texas' Perry might surprise Obama in 2012". Maine Sunday Telegram. June 5, 2011. http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/texas-perry-might-surprise-obama-in-2012_2011-06-05.html. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ a b "Texas Governor Rick Perry". Office of the Governor. http://www.governor.state.tx.us/about. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ Lucas, Fred (February 11, 2008). "Texas Governor Urges Protection for Boy Scouts of America". Cybercast News Service. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080518183709/http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200802/CUL20080211b.html. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ "Distinguished Eagle Scout Award". Boy Scouts of America. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/02-529.pdf. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ Hylton, Hilary (2009-01-25). "Bush Returns to a Divided Texas Republican Party". Time. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1873143,00.html.
- ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cheerleading-politics/story?id=16380524#5
- ^ a b c Hooks, Chris (August 2, 2011). "Texas A&M Years Launched Perry — and a Rivalry". The Texas Tribune (Austin). http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/perry-aggie-years/. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Jennifer (September 21, 2011). "Trivia question: Which presidential candidate has a degree in economics?". The Des Moines Register. http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/09/21/trivia-question-which-presidential-candidate-has-a-degree-in-economics/. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
- ^ Wood, E. Thomas (2009-02-27). "Dortch Oldham dies at 89". NashvillePost.com. http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2009/2/27/dortch_oldham_dies_at_89. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
- ^ "For Rick Perry, Air Force Service Broadened and Narrowed Life". The New York Times. November 25, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/us/politics/for-rick-perry-air-force-service-broadened-and-narrowed-life.html?pagewanted=all.
- ^ "Candidates' Corner 2012- Rick Perry". U.S. Global Leadership Coalition | American Foreign Policy & Foreign Affairs - Usglc.org. August 13, 2011. http://www.usglc.org/2011/08/12/rick-perry/. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Camia, Catalina (July 15, 2011). "GOP's Rick Perry spent early years as a Democrat". USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/07/rick-perry-presidential-race-former-democrat/1. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ "71st Legislature, 6th C.S., HR63.". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. 1990. http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/members/honorary/71/Perry_Rick_HR63.pdf. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ Jay Root, Rick Perry: The Democrat Years The Texas Tribune July 14, 2011.
- ^ "Rick Perry backed Al Gore, didn't lead his Texas campaign". PolitiFact. http://www.politifact.com/texas/article/2011/sep/07/perry-backed-gore-did-not-lead-his-texas-campaign/. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ^ "50 Things You need to Know about Governor Rick Perry" Dallas Morning News February 19, 2010.
- ^ Three ex-aides to Hightower are sentenced Houston Chronicle. November 11, 1993
- ^ "What is the Texas Department of Agriculture?". Texas Department of Agriculture. http://www.agr.state.tx.us/agr/main_render/0,1968,1848_8330_0_0,00.html?channelId=8330. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Ashford-Grooms, Meghan (September 24, 2011). "Ron Paul says Rick Perry wrote a letter supporting Hillarycare". Austin American-Statesman / PolitiFact.com. http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2011/sep/24/ron-paul/ron-paul-says-rick-perry-wrote-letter-supporting-h/. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ R.G. Ratcliffe (March 29, 2005). "Perry letter commending Hillary Clinton found". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Perry-letter-commending-Hillary-Clinton-found-1914428.phpa.
- ^ "Tea Party faithful wonder if Rick Perry walks the walk". Accuracy in Media. August 10, 2011. http://www.aim.org/newswire/tea-party-faithful-wonder-if-rick-perry-walks-the-walk/. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
- ^ Ramsey, Ross (July 14, 2011). "Perry, Social Conservatives and the Road to the Top". The Texas Tribune. http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/perry-social-conservatives-and-the-road-to-the-top/.
- ^ Ratcliffe, R.G. (September 10, 2009). "The video Perry's campaign can't resist using". San Antonio Express-News. http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2009/09/the-video-perrys-campaign-cant-resist-using/.
- ^ Mark, David. Going dirty: the Art of Negative Campaigning. p. 127.
- ^ Ratcliffe, R.G. (March 30, 2005). "Perry says Hutchison-Clinton video politics as usual". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Perry-says-Hutchison-Clinton-video-politics-as-1660157.php.
- ^ a b c http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/
- ^ Swartz, Mimi (September 2011). "The Great Campaigner". Texas Monthly. http://www.texasmonthly.com/2011-09-01/feature7.php.
- ^ "POLITICO: If Rick Perry gets in, will Karl Rove be out?". http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59687.html. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ^ Taibbi, Matt (October 26, 2011), "Rick Perry: The Best Little Whore In Texas", Rolling Stone, http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/rick-perry-the-best-little-whore-in-texas-20111026?page=3, retrieved 2011-11-20
- ^ "The Executive Branch: Budgetary Powers", Texas Politics, University of Texas at Austin, retrieved June 20, 2011
- ^ "The Limits of the Veto", Texas Politics, University of Texas at Austin, retrieved June 20, 2011
- ^ Aaronson, Becca (June 17, 2011), "Vetoes — Then and Now", The Texas Tribune (Austin), http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/82nd-legislative-session/on-the-records-vetoes--then-and-now/, retrieved June 20, 2011
- ^ Luhby, Tami (August 12, 2011). "Rick Perry and his Texas jobs boom: The whole story - Aug. 12, 2011". CNNMoney.com. http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/12/news/economy/perry_texas_jobs/. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ "West Texans React to Perry's Presidency Run". Odessa, TX: KWES-TV. August 13, 2011. http://www.newswest9.com/story/15263295/west-texans-react-to-perrys-presidency-run. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ "The Lone Star Jobs Surge". The Wall Street Journal. June 10, 2011. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304259304576375480710070472.html. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Plumer, Brad (2011-07-28). "Breaking down Rick Perry's 'Texas miracle' - Ezra Klein". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/breaking-down-rick-perrys-texas-miracle/2011/08/15/gIQAzRHFHJ_blog.html. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
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- ^ The Texas Unmiracle By PAUL KRUGMAN, New York Times, August 14, 2011
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- ^ Perry Mines Texas System to Raise Cash, by Nicholas Confessore and Michael Lu, New York Times, August 20, 2011.
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- ^ July 21st, 2011 (2011-07-21). "Texas Gov. Rick Perry Signs Bill De-Funding Planned Parenthood". Catholic Tide. http://www.catholictide.com/21/texas-gov-rick-perry-signs-bill-de-funding-planned-parenthood/. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
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- ^ Maslin Nir, Sarah (2011-08-04). "Rick Perry Has Stem Cell Procedure, Then Works to Bring it to Texas". The New York Times. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/rick-perry-has-stem-cell-procedure-then-works-to-bring-it-to-texas/. 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. http://web.archive.org/web/20061119030904/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110606dnTSWperry.351c57c.html. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
- ^ Perry, Rick (2008). On My Honor. Macon, GA: Stroud & Hall Publishers. p. 88. ISBN 0-9796462-2-7.
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- ^ "2010 The Vote: K-12 Education". San Angelo Standard-Times. September 11, 2010. http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/sep/11/this-series-examines-important-issues-to-texans/. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ "Press Release] Gov. Perry Says Legislators Must Come Back, Get School Funding Right". Office of the Governor Rick Perry -Governor.state.tx.us. http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/3589/. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Gov. Perry's Principles For A Stronger Texas". Office of the Governor - Rick Perry - Governor.state.tx.us. http://www.governor.state.tx.us/priorities/tax_reform/TTRC_report/files/TTRC_report.pdf. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Perry, Rick (August 22, 2001). "Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks to the Border Summit". Office of the Governor. http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10688/. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
- ^ "Perry calls sodomy law 'appropriate'". Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. December 4, 2002. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2002_3605756/perry-calls-sodomy-law-appropriate.html. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ Elliott, Janet (November 8, 2005). "Same-sex marriage ban wins OK". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/default/article/Same-sex-marriage-ban-wins-OK-1933429.php. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Jennifer (July 23, 2011). "Perry defends gay marriage as states' choice; Santorum takes a swipe". The Des Moines Register. http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/07/23/perry-defends-gay-marriage-as-a-states-choice-santorum-takes-a-swipe/. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ Barabak, Mark Z. (July 28, 2011). "Rick Perry contorts over same-sex marriage". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/28/news/la-pn-perry-gay-marriage-20110728. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ Benjamin, Mark (August 24, 2011). "Perry Compared Homosexuality to Alcoholism in 2008 Book". Time. http://swampland.time.com/2011/08/24/perry-compared-homosexuality-to-alcoholism-in-2008-book/. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
- ^ Stein, Sam (December 8, 2011). "Rick Perry's Anti-Gay Iowa Ad Divides His Top Staff". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/rick-perry-anti-gay-iowa-ad-divides-top-staff_n_1136587.html. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ^ a b "Public Notes on 01-NGA10". On The Issues. September 14, 2001. http://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_01-NGA10.htm. 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. http://www.newsweek.com/id/69546/output/print. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ^ "Texas Set Today to Execute 234th person under Governor Rick Perry". Texas Moratorium Network. August 10, 2011. http://stopexecutions.blogspot.com/2011/08/texas-set-today-to-execute-234th-person.html. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ "From arson to politics: Why has Texas's governor derailed a death-penalty investigation?". The Economist. October 22, 2009. http://www.economist.com/node/14699746. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ Grann, David (January 7, 2009). "Cameron Todd Willingham, Texas, and the death penalty". The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ "Frances Elaine Newton #982". Clarkprosecutor.org. http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/newton982.htm. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Graczyk, Michael (July 8, 2011). "Criticism of Texas' execution of Mexican Leal doesn't bother Perry". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/08/3209871/criticism-of-texas-execution-of.html. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Blumenthal, Ralph (August 31, 2007). "Governor Commutes Sentence in Texas". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/31/us/31execute.html. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
- ^ a b "Inmate Given Life After Drug Use Is Pardoned in Texas". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 11, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/us/11pot.html. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
- ^ "Trans-Texas Corridor: FAQs". Texas Department of Transportation. 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-11-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20071113223501/http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/faqs/?faq_type=3. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
- ^ "2006 State Republican Party Platform". Texas Republican Party. 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-06-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080625233304/http://www.texasgop.org/site/DocServer/Platform_Updated.pdf?docID=2001. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "2006 Texas Democratic Party Platform". 2006. http://txdems.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/Party%20Platforms/2006%20TDP%20platform.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
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- ^ Promising Better Direction, Perry Enters Race.
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- ^ Burns, Alexander (October 2, 2011). "Perry team pushes back on Herman Cain criticism". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/64926.html. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
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- ^ 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. http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/02/09/0209perrybook.html. 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. http://www.uthscsa.edu/opa/issues/new34-24/perry.html. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Giles, Mike. "Governor Rick Perry Leads Texas by Faith". DFW Christian Family. http://www.dfwchristianfamily.com/cover/Governor-Rick-Perry-Leads-Texas-by-Faith.php. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe Texas Board of Elections as of July 24, 2009
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Rick Perry
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Perry, Rick |
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American politician |
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March 4, 1950 |
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Paint Creek, Texas |
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