by Peter Stern

 

 

Texans must make a statement in the March Primary or in the November 2010 election.  "Send Perry Packing!!!"

 

Remember back in October 2006 when Gov. Perry pounced on legislators for the diversion of tax dollars, mimicking a Knight in Shining Armor?  He publicly tried to show how he was going to defend the public's well-being.

At that time, one month before the elections, our "beloved" and seemingly "proper" governor pretended he was concerned about how legislators take tax dollars collected from one issue and divert it to another, as in, 40 percent of the gas tax revenues going to higher education and other issues?  Well, where had he been for the past 8 years? [sarcastic rhetorical question]

For years legislative loopholes have enabled elected officials to take money they promised taxpayers would go towards, say, building and maintaining roadways (via gas taxes) and instead divert those tax dollars to higher education and the Department of Public Safety. We’re told it’s all perfectly legal, but is it ethical?

 

When has Perry shown ANY REAL concern about the way things were being handled at the State Capitol?  Probably not, since they continue to move around our tax dollars for any of their special interest whims.

In 2005 the governor and legislators pushed through a bill that deregulated higher education promising lower tuition based on more competition. Since then, institutions like UT have increased their tuition costs at least 4 times, yet they continue to get diverted dollars collected from gasoline taxes and also from state lottery earnings!  All this with the blessings of Perry and legislators.

Texas Taxpayers continue to be ripped-off by Perry and his legislative brigands.  This is the man Texans will reelect for Governor?  BAD JUDGMENT!

By the way, with Perry’s unrelenting and insatiable push for toll roads where do you think all THOSE collected toll tax revenue dollars will be diverted to?

During the past 9 years many of us have been writing the governor and legislators about this general "slush fund" loophole. It is unconscionable that monies are diverted from what the taxpayers were told by lawmakers where their tax dollars were going but instead are being diverted to special interests.

So, JUST AS PERRY IS DOING NOW FOR THE 2010 ELECTION, in 2006 one month before the elections Perry was doing everything to convince voters that he was a great governor and good guy, and that he wanted to do what’s best for Texans and their families.  However, if you review the governor’s 9-year record, in reality he has done little to improve the quality of life for most Texans and their families. In fact, the truth is that most Texans are worse-off than they were 9 years ago.

Gov. Perry must think that most Texans are idiots. He was reelected in 2006 by a paltry 39 percent total votes, thanks to an iron-clad Texas law that does NOT require a run-off gubernatorial election when the winner receives less than 50 percent of the total votes.

Rick Perry is up for reelection again in 2010. However, this time my bet is on Texans to see through his "smoke & mirrors!"