Saturday, March 14, 2009

Rick Perry's Marie Antoinette Moment!




On Thursday, March 12, Governor Rick Perry said he would reject about $555 million from the federal government for expanded aid to unemployed Texans.
Perry has been all over the map about whether or not he will accept federal dollars as part of the economic stimulus plan.
The money in question would extend benefits for Texans who have been laid off during the economic downturn.
Perry did agree to accept $17 billion from the proposed plan he says will go to other purposes. You might read that as "toll roads!" ...To be operated by private companies, a really lousy idea!
By rejecting the $555 million targeted for unemployed workers Perry said he is protecting employers from higher taxes.
"Employers who have to pay more taxes have less money to make their payroll" said Perry. He said this would cause higher taxes and businesses would have to raise prices on their products, Perry told a news conference. "The calls to take the (stimulus) money and sort out the consequences later are quite troubling to me."
That's vintage Perry, all his concern is for employers, mainly big time corporate employers, and zero concern for those who have lost their jobs.
This is a heck of a legacy to carry into his reelection campaign. It seems likely Perry wont get much support from the workers who have lost their jobs and whose unemployment runs out!
Just to make matters worse Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken has warned that the state's unemployment compensation trust fund could be operating at a deficit by October and could fall into insolvency in the future. In light of this Perry still wants to turn down the money.
Perry, expecting a strong challenge from Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for the gubernatorial nomination in the
Republican Party, is attempting to move to the right of Hutchison and to reinforce his conservative creds.
It will be interesting to see how it all works out but in the mean time Perry is using working and recently laid off Texans as pawns in his political game.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Ingleside Sailors Find Out Where Their New Home Port Is

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Rick Perry Waffles On Bail Out Money



Texas Guv Rick Perry was one of the right wing governors who recently indicated they didn't want any Federal bail out money. Citing his "conservative principles" he voiced his opposition to some of President Obama's programs to send money to the states. Firmly standing on his convictions Perry said he wouldn't take that money.
But that was a bluff and he quickly folded and grudgingly accepted the Federal cash.
He will, for the first time, face stiff opposition in the Republican primary since Kay Bailey Hutchison, the current senior U.S. Senator from Texas, has announced her intent to run for the Republican nomination for Governor.
His campaign might be in serious trouble if he had turned down the offered $313 billion in road and bridge repair money. He may still be in trouble as he has indicated he might put most of that into projects to build toll roads in Texas. There is little support for toll roads in Texas.
As usual Governor Perry is always looking out for the big money and shows little concern for those in Texas struggling to make ends meet in this current economy.