Texans For Kay

Austin, TX – In last night’s debate, Rick Perry repeatedly ignored the facts and tried to mislead Texas voters on job creation, toll road conversion, the Texas Enterprise Fund, highway funding, and providing in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. Perry’s claims have been called “not wholly correct,” “wrong on the facts,” and “just plain false.” Check out the facts below:

FACT CHECK #1: Rick Perry’s Claim About Amended Enterprise Fund Contracts Is “False”:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Perry’s Claim That His Office Amended Enterprise Fund Contracts Just Last Week Was “False,” The  “Governor’s Office Had Been Amending Contracts Over A Period Of At Least Two Years.” “Claim: During an exchange over faltering contracts with the Texas Enterprise Fund, Perry said, ‘Just last week, we amended those contracts.’ Background: In 2003, the legislature created the Texas Enterprise Fund, a pot of money under Perry’s discretion to attract new industry and job to the state. True or false? False. The Governor’s Office announced on Tuesday that Enterprise Fund contracts with 11 companies were amended. The release did not specify when the projects were amended. A report from Texans for Public Justice released the next day said that the governor’s office had been amending contracts over a period of at least two years as multiple companies were not able to meet the job targets they originally promised.” (Aman Batheja, “Debate Fact Check: Texas Enterprise Fund,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s “PoliTex” Blog, http://startelegram.typepad.com, 1/29/10)

FACT CHECK #2: Rick Perry’s Claim About The Texas Enterprise Fund’s Job Creation Is False:

The Dallas Morning News: Rick Perry Claimed That The TEF Created 54,600 Jobs, But “More Than One-Third Of That Total Was Job Pledges That Hadn't Materialized.” “THE CLAIM: Gov. Rick Perry said in Friday night's GOP governor debate that the Texas Enterprise Fund had brought 54,600 jobs to Texas. THE FACTS: A report released Wednesday by Texans for Public Justice, a research and advocacy group, said that when Perry asserted in February 2009 that the program had created 54,000 jobs since it began in 2003, more than one-third of that total was job pledges that hadn't materialized. A Perry aide said the 54,600 figure is ‘jobs committed to date.’ When asked for more detail, the aide replied: ‘Some have been realized, others are still contractually obligated to be committed.’ The aide didn't respond to a question about how many are in each category. THE BOTTOM LINE: Perry may be counting jobs that don't exist yet.” (Ryan J. Rusak, “Heat Index: A Fact Check Of Perry's Claim On Texas Enterprise Fund,” The Dallas Morning News’ “Trail Blazers” Blog, trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com, 1/30/10)

FACT CHECK #3: Rick Perry’s Claim About His Law Providing In-State Tuition To Illegal Immigrants “Is Just Plain False”:

Lone Star Report’s William Lutz: “Perry's Claim That The Texas Education Agency Follows Up On Whether Illegal Immigrant Recipients Of In-State Tuition Actually File For Permanent Residency Is Just Plain False.” “Second, Gov. Rick Perry's claim that the Texas Education Agency follows up on whether illegal immigrant recipients of in-state tuition actually file for permanent residency is just plain false. The Texas Education Agency has no authority over higher education or determination of residency status for tuition purposes.” (William Lutz, “Setting The Record Straight On In-State Tuition For Illegals,” Lone Star Report, <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Arial Narrow"; panose-1:2 11 6 6 2 2 2 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 2048 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> www.lonestarreport.org, 1/29/10)

Austin American-Statesman: Perry “Mistakenly Said It Is Up To The Texas Education Agency To Verify That Those Students Are Working Toward Citizenship. Each University Is Supposed To Follow Up On That.”  “He stood by his signature on a law allowing in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants who are on the path to citizenship, although he mistakenly said it is up to the Texas Education Agency to verify that those students are working toward citizenship. Each university is supposed to follow up on that.” (Jason Embry and Corrie MacLaggan, “Perry Stands Ground On His Record,” Austin American-Statesman, 1/29/10)

FACT CHECK #4: Rick Perry’s Claim That Texas Is Only Receiving 70 Cents Back In Federal Gas Tax Dollars Is False:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Perry’s Claim On Gas Tax Revenue Returns Is False, While Hutchison’s Is “True.” “Claim: Perry and Hutchison sparred for the second time on live television over how much gas tax money Texas gets back from the federal government. Way back in early January, Perry said in a debate on a stage in Denton that Texas gets 70 cents back for every dollar sent to Washington. … This time around, Perry repeated his complaint that Texas isn't getting it's fair share of the gas tax money. Hutchison then said Texas actually got 100 percent of its gas tax money back in 2008 …True or false? True...technically. … After tonight's debate, Hutchison's camp pointed us to this page on the Federal Highway Administration's web site. It shows Texas actually got 107 percent back in gas tax money in the 2008 fiscal year compared to how much the state contributed to the fund.”  (Aman Batheja, “Debate Fact Check: Gas Taxes (Yes, Again!),” Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s “PoliTex” Blog, startelegram.typepad.com, 1/29/10)

FACT CHECK #5: Rick Perry’s Claim That “The Legislature Prohibited The Tolling Of Existing Free Lanes” Is False:

Texas Monthly: Perry Said The Legislature Prohibited The Tolling Of Existing Free Lanes In 2005, But That “Is Not Wholly Correct. TxDOT Can Toll Existing Highways.” “Perry said that the Legislature prohibited the tolling of existing free lanes in 2005. This is not wholly correct. TxDOT can toll existing highways, including interestate highways, if the counties in which TxDOT wants to convert free lanes to toll lanes vote to allow it. I know this because Deirdre Delisi is angry with me for not clarifying this in a post I wrote several weeks ago. I trust that she will forgive me now since Perry overlooked it too.”  (Paul Burka, “If Someone Were Paying Me $30,000 A Month…,” Texas Monthly’s “Burka Blog,” www.texasmonthly.com, 1/30/10)

The Dallas Morning News: “Perry Is Wrong On The Facts.” “THE CLAIM: Gov. Rick Perry said in Friday night's GOP governor debate that "’n 2005, the Texas Legislature clearly prohibited taking free lanes ... and converting them to toll. ... And I signed it.’ THE FACTS: There is no such prohibition in state law. … BOTTOM LINE: Perry is wrong on the facts but correct to suggest that no free lane is going to be turned into a toll-lane any time soon.” (Ryan J. Rusak, “Heat Index: A Fact Check Of Perry's Claim On Free Roads Becoming Toll Roads,” The Dallas Morning News’ “Trail Blazers” Blog, trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com, 1/30/10)

FACT CHECK #6: It’s “True” That Rick Perry Is “Spending Taxpayer Money Like A Liberal”:

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Rick Perry Is “Spending Taxpayer Money Like A Liberal” For Increasing His Office’s Expenditures By 13.5%, Which Is “True.” “Claim: Medina accused the governor of spending taxpayer money like a liberal. She pointed out that expenditures from the governor’s office’s spending have increased 13.5 percent, according to the latest comptroller’s report. True or false? True. A newsletter for Dec./Jan. from the Comptroller’s office shows that the expenditures from the state’s executive branch rose 13.5 percent from the start of the fiscal year compared to the previous year.”  (Aman Batheja, “Debate Fact Check: Medina On Perry's Spending,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s “PoliTex” Blog, startelegram.typepad.com, 1/29/10)

Hutchison Showed “Passion And Fight”:

Austin American-Statesman’s Alberta Phillips: Hutchison Showed “Passion And Fight.” “Hutchison is showing some passion and fight in answering questions about Texas Trans Corridor.” (“Join Us For A GOP Debate Live Chat Tonight,” Austin American-Statesman’s “Postcards” Blog, www.statesman.com, 1/29/10)
 
The Dallas Morning News: Hutchison “Went After Perry For Using His Power To Politicize Universities, A Point On Which He's Clearly Vulnerable.” “She also went after Perry for using his power to politicize universities, a point on which he's clearly vulnerable.” (Editorial, “GOP Front-Runners Still Need To Make Case,” The Dallas Morning News, 1/30/10)
 
Quorum Report’s Harvey Kronberg: Hutchison “Was Measured And Her Answers Were Mostly Crisp And Confident.” (Harvey Kronberg, “Despite Some Seriously Weak Moments, Perry Has A Good Night,” Quorum Report, 1/29/10)

San Antonio Express-News: “Hutchison Said Cronyism Between Perry And Lobbyists Is What Prompted Him To Propose Building The Trans-Texas Corridor Or To Mandate Vaccinating Sixth Grade Girls Against The Sexually Transmitted HPV Virus.” (R.G. Ratcliffe and Peggy Fikac, “Perry, Hutchison, Medina Spar Again,” San Antonio Express-News, 1/27/10)
 
The Dallas Morning News’ Bill McKenzie: Hutchison Had A “Good Answer, Hitting Him On Cronyism.”  “Good answer, hitting him on cronyism. He's vulnerable there” (Michael Landauer, “Dallas Morning News Editorial Board Live Chat: GOP Gubernatorial Debate,” The Dallas Morning News’ “Opinion” Blog, http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com, 1/29/10)
 
KXAN’s Shannon Wolfson: “Senator Hutchison Questioned The Rampant Spending Under Perry’s Leadership.” (KXAN’s “Austin News,” 1/29/10)
 
WFAA’s Gloria Campos: “KBH Coming With A Strong Finish.” (KENS 5 Website, www.kens5.com, Accessed 1/29/10)
 
Perry, On The Other Hand, Was On The Defensive Over The Trans-Texas Corridor And His HPV Mandate:
 
The Associated Press: “Gov. Rick Perry Began The Second Debate Among The Three Republican Gubernatorial Candidates By Defending His Failed Plan For A Massive Tollway System Through Texas.” (“Final GOP Governor's Debate Under Way In Dallas,” The Associated Press, 1/29/10)
 
Quorum Report’s Harvey Kronberg: Perry Had A “Weak” Moment When Trying To Explain His HPV Executive Order, Which Had “Outraged” Republicans. “From this set of eyes, Perry had two truly weak moments.  The first was attempting to convert his Executive Order mandating HPV vaccines for teenage girls into a pro-life argument -- problematic at best given the emerging evidence that the HPV vaccine was too new and may have serious side effects.  Republicans were outraged at the Executive Order then and are likely to remain so now.” (Harvey Kronberg, “Despite Some Seriously Weak Moments, Perry Has A Good Night,” Quorum Report, 1/29/10)
 
Houston Chronicle: “Gov. Rick Perry, Fielding The First Question In The Debate, Didn't Back Away From His Controversial Effort To Address Traffic Congestion Through A Vast Network Dubbed The Trans-Texas Corridor.” (Peggy Fikac, “Gov. Perry: Trans-Texas Corridor Effort Not A Mistake,” Houston Chronicle’s “Texas Politics” Blog, http://blogs.chron.com, 1/29/10)
 
Houston Chronicle: “Gov. Rick Perry Stood By Another Controversy-Stirring Decision -- His Order For School Girls Be Vaccinated HPV, A Sexually Transmitted Virus Linked To Cervical Cancer.” (Peggy Fikac, “Gov. Perry Defends HPV Order As ‘Pro-Life,’” Houston Chronicle’s “Texas Politics” Blog, http://blogs.chron.com, 1/29/10)
 
KFDA’s Walt Howard: “Governor Rick Perry Began The Second Debate By Defending His Failed Plan For A Massive Tollway System Through Texas.” (KFDA’s “Nightcast,” 1/29/10)
 
San Antonio Express-News: “Perry Spent Most Of The Evening Defending His Promotion Of The Trans Texas Corridor.” “Gov. Rick Perry spent most of the evening defending his promotion of the Trans Texas Corridor, toll roads and the spending of $380 million to attract businesses to move to Texas.” (R.G. Ratcliffe and Peggy Fikac, “Perry, Hutchison, Medina Spar Again,” San Antonio Express-News, 1/27/10)
 
Perry Relied On Misleading Rhetoric And “False” Information:
 
Lone Star Report’s William Lutz: “Perry's Claim That The Texas Education Agency Follows Up On Whether Illegal Immigrant Recipients Of In-State Tuition Actually File For Permanent Residency Is Just Plain False.” “Second, Gov. Rick Perry's claim that the Texas Education Agency follows up on whether illegal immigrant recipients of in-state tuition actually file for permanent residency is just plain false. The Texas Education Agency has no authority over higher education or determination of residency status for tuition purposes.” (William Lutz, “Setting The Record Straight On In-State Tuition For Illegals,” Lone Star Report, www.lonestarreport.org, 1/29/10)
 
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Perry’s Claim About Amended Enterprise Fund Contracts Was “False.”  “Claim: During an exchange over faltering contracts with the Texas Enterprise Fund, Perry said, ‘Just last week, we amended those contracts.’ Background: In 2003, the legislature created the Texas Enterprise Fund, a pot of money under Perry’s discretion to attract new industry and job to the state. True or false? False. The Governor’s Office announced on Tuesday that Enterprise Fund contracts with 11 companies were amended. The release did not specify when the projects were amended. A report from Texans for Public Justice released the next day said that the governor’s office had been amending contracts over a period of at least two years as multiple companies were not able to meet the job targets they originally promised.” (Aman Batheja, “Debate Fact Check: Texas Enterprise Fund,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s “PoliTex” Blog, http://startelegram.typepad.com, 1/29/10)

Austin, TX – Rick Perry once famously compared himself to a “mother bear when it comes to campaigns.” We’re still not sure what that means, but after tonight, we’re thinking he was referring to his tendency to lash out at those around him at the slightest provocation. On five separate occasions during the debate, when posed a direct question, Perry turned it around by passing the buck and attacking a second party. Check out the five Perry pressure points hit in tonight’s debate:

PERRY PASSING THE BUCK #1: When Asked About His Support Of The Trans-Texas Corridor, Perry Attacked The Texas Legislatures And Past Texas Governors.  John McKay: “Now, Governor, the Trans Texas Corridor, your idea, you’ve been taking some hits on that all during the campaign. For all intents and purposes people have said that this really is dead. But was it a mistake?” Perry: “Oh I don’t think it was a mistake at all to have a vision of how to move people and produce safely and expeditiously in the State of Texas. Unfortunately, for too many years we had legislature and governors that kicked the can down the road, if you will, and Texas highways became congested. So we had to come up with some concepts and some ideas of how to move people effectively and efficiently, and we’ve done that in Texas – more highway miles built in Texas than any other state in that last ten years.” (Texas Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate, Dallas, TX, 1/29/10)

PERRY PASSING THE BUCK #2: When Asked Why He Didn’t Include A Measure Preventing Free Roads From Being Converted Into Toll Roads In The Original Trans-Texas Corridor Plan, Perry Blamed The Texas Legislature. Perry: “In 2005, the Texas Legislature clearly prohibited taking free lanes, as you refer to them and converting them to toll. She knows that. So that is a misstatement of fact at best.” ... Slater: “Why wouldn't you have done that as part of your original construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor? Why did you wait for the Legislature to try to protect Texans – ” Perry: “Wayne, of all of the people in this room, you know how the Texas legislature works probably better than any of us. And the fact is, that has historically been a process of moving us from a very antiquated way of building roads, where we had constitutional prohibitions of using certain types of money. So, we structured through a number of years and two or three legislative sessions, different parts of building up our transportation system where that we could build the roads that we need, and that was one of them.” (Texas Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate, Dallas, TX, 1/29/10)

PERRY PASSING THE BUCK #3: When Asked Whether Texas Should Use The E-Verify System, Perry Attacked Kay Bailey Hutchison And Washington. Terri Gruca: “Governor Perry, same question to you, do you support passing the E-Verify?” Perry: “The E-Verify is clearly a federal program, and speaking of the federal government, that’s where the problem really lies with this issue. Washington, D.C. have been abject failures when it comes to defending our border. As a matter of fact, when the senator had the opportunity to vote against sanctuary cities, that Senator Coburn introduced, she voted with the Democrats and against Coburn’s legislation to outlaw sanctuary cities. Washington needs to realize that their responsibility is to send the troops, use the technology, spend the money to defend our southern border from those individuals that would do harm to our citizens.” (Texas Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate, Dallas, TX, 1/29/10)

PERRY PASSING THE BUCK #4: When Questioned On His Support Of In-State College Tuition For Illegal Immigrants, Perry Attacked Washington. Len Cannon: “Your support for this bill [granting in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants] seems to not square with your belief of protecting the borders. How do you explain this position on this bill, with your Republican constituents?” Perry: “Absolutely, what we're doing to defend our border and dealing with a young Texan who wants to go to college, trying to connect those two, I think is a stretch at best. If Washington, D.C. would halfway pay attention to the needs of this state and the security of our border, then we wouldn’t be having these discussions that we’re having today. The failure of Washington, D.C. to spend the money, to send the troops, to do what is required to defend our border is absolutely an abomination in my opinion.” (Texas Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate, Dallas, TX, 1/29/10)

PERRY PRESSURE POINT #5: When Asked What He Would Do To Ensure Teachers Receive 100% Of Their Social Security Benefits, Perry Attacked Washington. Stan Magee: “I would like to know what you would do to push Congress and secure 100%, not 60% of Social Security benefits for the many hundreds of thousands of teachers who have qualified for full benefits prior to becoming a teacher.” Len Cannon:  “Governor, it’s a complicated issue. How do you help those teachers?” Perry:  “It is one of those debacles that Congress has allowed to occur through the years, that our teachers don't get their full Social Security benefits back.” Cannon: “Is there anything you can do as governor to help in that?” Perry: “Well, from governorship of the State of Texas, we can use the bully pulpit, but I think the people of this state electing men and women who will go to Washington, D.C. and tell them to send the money back that we deserve, whether it’s our transportation infrastructure dollars or whether it’s the dollars that these teachers have put into their Social Security accounts.” (Texas Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate, Dallas, TX, 1/29/10)

Austin, TX – In tonight’s debate, Texans heard Rick Perry try to amend his decade long record of imposing giant land grabs, toll roads, and vaccine mandates, but unfortunately – unlike TEF contracts – his past can’t be altered. So we’re setting the record straight. Check out the facts below:

DEBATE FACT CHECK #1: Perry Says The Trans-Texas Corridor Wasn’t A Mistake But It Cost $131 Million To Build A Road To Nowhere:

Houston Chronicle: Tonight, Rick Perry Said Of The Trans-Texas Corridor: “I Don’t Think It Was A Mistake At All.” “Gov. Rick Perry, fielding the first question in the debate, didn't back away from his controversial effort to address traffic congestion through a vast network dubbed the Trans-Texas Corridor. The effort proved so unpopular that his appointed Texas Transportation Commission has declared it dead, and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has attacked Perry over the idea repeatedly. Asked whether the corridor idea was a mistake, Perry said: ‘I don't think it was a mistake at all to have a vision of how to move people and produce safely and expeditiously in the state of Texas.’”  (Peggy Fikac, “Gov. Perry: Trans-Texas Corridor Effort Not A Mistake,”  Houston Chronicle’s “Texas Politics” Blog, blogs.chron.com, 1/29/10)

Click Here To View The Facts

DEBATE FACT CHECK #2: Perry’s Plan To Fund Transportation Includes More Toll Roads And Raising Gas Taxes:

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DEBATE FACT CHECK #3: Perry Has Failed To Lead On Sanctuary Cities:

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DEBATE FACT CHECK #4: Perry’s Texas Enterprise Fund Has Faltered And Failed To Meet Job Promises:

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DEBATE FACT CHECK #5: Perry Signed Legislation Giving Illegal Immigrants In-State Tuition:

Click Here To View The Facts

DEBATE FACT CHECK #6: Perry Still Supports The HPV Vaccine Mandate, Which Could Come Back In 2011:

Houston Chronicle: Tonight, Rick Perry “Stood By Another Controversy-Stirring Decision -- His Order For School Girls Be Vaccinated HPV.”  “Gov. Rick Perry stood by another controversy-stirring decision -- his order for school girls be vaccinated HPV, a sexually transmitted virus linked to cervical cancer. The Legislature ended up overturning the order, to his chagrin. Asked about it tonight, he said, ‘I always stand for life. That issue was about being pro-life ... I stand proudly by my pro-life position.’” (Peggy Fikac, “Gov. Perry Defends HPV Order As ‘Pro-Life,’” Houston Chronicle’s “Texas Politics” Blog, blogs.chron.com, 1/29/10)

Click Here To View The Facts

DEBATE FACT CHECK #7: Just Last Week, Rick Perry’s TxDOT Confirmed It Can Toll Existing Roads:

Click Here To View The Facts

Perry Again Arrogant, Desperate To Hold Onto Power In Austin

Dallas, TX – In the second Republican primary debate, Kay Bailey Hutchison scored a decisive victory, clearly articulating a case for new leadership in Austin. Hutchison highlighted the culture of cronyism that has crept into Austin under Rick Perry, calling for transparency in the Texas Enterprise Fund and an end to the Trans-Texas Corridor.

“I want to do an audit of TxDOT, TxDOT has mismanaged money,” stated Kay Bailey Hutchison.  “We know they have misplaced $1 billion in an accounting error. We need new leadership at TxDOT. The concept of a Trans-Texas Corridor is more taxes, toll roads or no roads. I think that we need to assure that TxDOT is talking to local officials. I will reform TxDOT. I will jerk it by its roots to get new leadership into TxDOT.”

Hutchison pointed out the culture of corruption that has become prevalent in Austin and offered a plan to clean up government and give it back to Texans.

“We must end the culture of cronyism in Austin. Ever wonder how we ended up with plans for the Trans Texas Corridor and forced vaccinations for young girls?” Hutchison said.  “It’s because of insider deals that put lobbyists first and you second.  Only a new governor will attack these problems. Join me for strong new leadership in Texas.”

Once again, Rick Perry appeared angry, confused, and when forced to defend his Trans-Texas Corridor, he refused to call his 600,000 acre land-grab a mistake. And under questioning, Perry was on the defensive, resorting to discredited attacks on Hutchison, and desperate defenses of his executive order mandating the HPV vaccine and job losses in Texas. 

“I have a record of conservative leadership for Texas,” finished Hutchison.  “As state treasurer, I led the fight against a state income tax. I wrote the plan that would limit state debt. In the Senate, I have cut taxes and protected Texas. Texas is the greatest state in America, but in tough times we need real leadership to go forward. That's why I’m running for governor.”