Texans would have been a lot better off if Rick Perry had done a Mark Sanford-style disappearing act rather than staying and irresponsibly killing a whole slate of critical bills that would have improved the lives of most Texans. Perry’s partisan meat-axe fell without warning. Many of the bills killed had broad or even unanimous bipartisan support and the Governor’s opposition was never expressed during their consideration. Others, he killed during the session with partisan veto threats and political posturing.
There have been several "best and worst" lists published since the Legislature adjourned. Rick Perry, however, qualifies as a Ten Worst list all by himself. Perry's actions as Governor don’t reflect the mainstream views of most Texans or even the mainstream view of many in his own party. Perry has turned his post as Texas Governor into a platform for the Mean Wing of the Republican Party, pursuing an "off the edge" ideology appealing only to the most impractical and intolerant in our society.
More follows:
Ten Bills Perry Killed/Vetoed that Hurt Texas
Kids, Kindergarten and Healthcare
- Killed SB841 and HB2962 – Near the end of the session, Perry threatened to veto Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) legislation that had passed each Chamber with bipartisan support. Perry’s threats and posturing intimidated Dewhurst and Straus, who used it as an excuse to let the legislation die rather than stand up to Perry. (Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 28, 2009)
- Vetoed HB130 – This bill would have made full day pre-kindergarten available to more at-risk kids and enacted new quality standards to improve pre-Kindergarten classes, including teacher training and class size limits. This conservative investment would have targeted common-sense help to kids who need it most. (Sources: Austin American-Statesman, June 19, 2009 and Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2009)
- Vetoed SB1440 – This bill would have strengthened the ability of Child Protective Services to protect kids from physical and sexual abuse. It also would have more clearly defined the rights of parents and families by ensuring strong, uniform judicial oversight. (Source: Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2009)
- Vetoed HB 3485 – This bill would have made it possible to seek a doctor’s care across wide areas of rural Texas that are medically underserved, including 27 West Texas counties that don’t have a single physician. The veto blind-sided bill supporters who had been told the Governor would accept the measure. (Source: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, June 23, 2009)
Taxes Promoting Toll Roads
- Vetoed HB2142 – This bill would have stopped the use of taxpayer funds to promote the construction of highly unpopular toll roads. It passed the House and Senate with only one dissenting vote. Perry’s veto ensures that tax dollars will be spent to build toll roads while trying to convince voters that toll roads are good for them. (Source: Texas Legislature)
Unsafe Water, Dangerous Roads
- Vetoed HB821 – This bill would have prevented ground water contamination and other dangerous pollution by requiring the recycling of discarded televisions that contain hazardous materials like lead. HB821 had overwhelming
bipartisan support, passing the Senate unanimously and the House by a 135-11 vote. (Source: Texas Legislature)
- Vetoed SB 488 – This bill would have improved safety for riders, walkers and drivers by requiring drivers to allow bikers and pedestrians a three-foot berth when passing on public streets. (Source: Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2009)
Rick’s Special Interest Revolving Door
- Vetoed (SB2468) – This bill closed a lobbyist/government employee revolving door loophole by requiring that individuals wait at least two years before moving from a Harris County government job to a job lobbying the county. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and by a 135-13 House vote. The same day Perry vetoed the bill, he named a lobbyist to be his Chief of Staff. 17 former Perry aides are now lobbyists. (Sources: Dallas Morning News, June 19, 2009 and Dallas Morning News, January 7, 2009)
Ideology Over Jobs/Small Businesses
- Killed SB1569 – Perry surrendered over one-half billion in Texas federal tax dollars to other states by threatening to veto and ultimately helping to block key legislation to keep the Texas Unemployment Insurance fund from going broke. Perry’s partisan actions will require unemployment tax rates to be raised on Texas businesses. This new "Perry tax" will double rates on many small businesses by year’s end. (Source: Dallas Morning News, June 10, 2009)
- Vetoed HB1293 – This bill would have cracked down on Life Insurance and Annuity companies preying on seniors and other citizens with unfair and deceptive marketing practices. (Source: Texas Legislature)
LONE STAR PROJECT
ADDED:
Broad backing for several bills governor vetoed
Few, if any, lawmakers voted against legislation Perry kills.
By Jason Embry
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A dozen of the 37 pieces of legislation that Gov. Rick Perry vetoed late last week moved through the Legislature without a single opposing vote.
The various measures would have, among other things, changed the makeup of the Teacher Retirement System board, allowed authorities to more quickly erase criminal records when someone is arrested but not charged with a crime, and given college students more time to graduate before they faced tuition increases for staying in school too long.
Most of the other bills Perry vetoed drew just a handful of dissenting votes — fewer than five in the 31-member Senate or 10 in the 150-member House.
"There's no check on the governor's power to veto bills that have been through an entire process," said Sen. Jeff Wentworth, a Republican from San Antonio who represents part of southern Travis County. Wentworth sponsored legislation that would have given lawmakers an opportunity to convene for three days after a regular session to override gubernatorial vetoes. It did not pass.
(More at the link)
Complete article here.