SARAH SAYS #2: Shine A “Bright Spotlight” On Government Ethics
Austin, TX – Rick Perry said former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is his “type of committed conservative,” but is Rick Perry really Palin’s type of governor? In Going Rogue, Palin recounts her gubernatorial campaign pledge to “shine a bright spotlight on ethics reform” and “clean up the favor factory” in the state capital. In contrast, Rick Perry has placed a “shroud of secrecy” over his administration and entrenched Austin in pay to play politics. Check out the facts below:
GOING ROGUE LESSON #2 FOR RICK PERRY
In Going Rogue, Sarah Palin “Promised To Shine A Bright Spotlight On Ethics Reform And To Clean Up The Favor Factory Known As The Capitol Building”:
Former Gov. Sarah Palin: “We promised to shine a bright spotlight on ethics reform and to clean up the favor factory known as the Capitol Building.” (Sarah Palin, Going Rogue, 2009, p. 112)
But Instead Of Shining A “Bright Spotlight,” Rick Perry Has Created The Most Secretive Administration In Modern Texas History:
Under Perry, “A Shroud Of Secrecy … Has Descended On The Governor’s Office.” “It is part of a pattern, a shroud of secrecy that has descended on the governor’s office since Perry took over as governor from Bush.” (R.G. Ratcliffe, “Perry Keeps Willingham Memo A Secret,” Houston Chronicle, 10/19/09)
Longview News-Journal Called Perry “The Most Secretive Governor In Modern-Day State History.” (Editorial, “Governor's Secrets: Perry's Refusal To Release Documents The Latest Example,” Longview News-Journal, 10/14/09)
· Perry Has Sought Rulings Against Releasing Records 173 Times. “Perry’s office has sought rulings from [Attorney General Greg] Abbott’s office 173 times against releasing records, and he twice sued Abbott when he didn’t like a ruling that records should be made public. Both lawsuits later were dropped.” (R.G. Ratcliffe, “Perry Keeps Willingham Memo A Secret,” Houston Chronicle, 10/19/09)
· Perry Won’t Disclose Travel, Meetings Or Whether He Is Out Of State. “But when it comes to his prospective travel, meetings and even whether he is out-of-state, he has won attorney general backing that allows him to withhold his schedule.” (Christy Hoppe, “Execution File Latest To Be Withheld,” The Dallas Morning News, 10/13/09)
And Instead Of Cleaning Up The “Favor Factory,” Rick Perry Is Known For His Pay To Play Politics In Austin:
Houston Chronicle Headline: “Unseemly Gifts; Contributions To Gov. Perry From His Appointees Create Appearance Of Trade-Offs” (Editorial, “Unseemly Gifts; Contributions To Gov. Perry From His Appointees Create Appearance Of Trade-Offs,” The Houston Chronicle, 5/9/09)
Dallas Morning News Headline: “Perry's Top Donors Get Business, Appointments” (Wayne Slater, “Perry's Top Donors Get Business, Appointments,” The Dallas Morning News, 8/17/06)
Houston Chronicle Headline: “The Golden Touch; Gov. Perry's High-Powered Patronage Pays Off For Political Supporters” (Editorial, “The Golden Touch; Gov. Perry's High-Powered Patronage Pays Off For Political Supporters,” The Houston Chronicle, 8/22/06)
In May 2009, The Houston Chronicle Reported That “Perry Has Accepted Nearly $5 Million In Political Campaign Donations” From His Political Appointees. “Gov. Rick Perry has accepted nearly $5 million in political campaign donations from people he appointed to state boards and commissions, including some in plum jobs that set policy for state universities, parks and roads, records show.” (Matt Stiles, “Appointees Gave Perry $5 Million,” Houston Chronicle, 5/4/09)
About Half Of University Regents Have Donated At Least $1,000 To Perry, With 13 Of The Regents Contributing At Least $100,000. “About half of the current university regents in the state have given Perry at least $1,000 over the years. Of that group, 18 have given him at least $50,000, and 13 have given at least $100,000.” (Jason Embry, “Shami Looks In The Mirror, Sees A Jobs Plan,” Austin American-Stateman’s “First Reading” Blog, www.statesman.com, 12/10/09)
