Forty-five Georgia Republican Lawmakers Endorse Rick Perry for President

ATLANTA – Texas Gov. Rick Perry today received the endorsement of 45 Republican Georgia lawmakers in his campaign for president. This represents more than one-third of the state’s Republican lawmakers, including well over half of state Senate Republicans.

“Rick Perry is the candidate who will get America working again,” said Economic Development Chairman and Governor Deal’s Floor Leader, State Senator Ronnie Chance. “Under his leadership, Texas gained more than one million net new jobs. Gov. Perry’s record proves that he is the right choice for our nation.”

“Rick Perry doesn’t just talk about conservative reform, he backs it up with actions,” said State Representative Allen Peake, Majority Caucus Secretary/Treasurer. “Gov. Perry is a principled conservative who has cut taxes, reduced spending and stood up to the job-killing regulations from Washington bureaucrats.”

“I am humbled to have the support of so many Republican lawmakers in Georgia,” said Gov. Rick Perry. “They share my vision for a stronger America with more jobs, more freedom and less government intrusion in the lives of our citizens. With their help, we will run a spirited campaign in Georgia, and in 2012 we’ll get America working again.”

Gov. Perry has already received the support of prominent Georgian Republican leaders, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and State Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.

State Senator Tommie Williams, President Pro Tempore
State Senator Bill Cowsert, Majority Caucus Chair
State Senator Cecil Staton, Majority Whip
State Senator Ronnie Chance, Governor’s Floor Leader
State Senator Bill Jackson, Governor’s Floor Leader
State Senator Don Balfour
State Senator Jeff Mullis
State Senator John Albers
State Senator Charlie Bethel
State Senator Buddy Carter
State Senator John Crosby
State Senator Frank Ginn
State Senator Greg Goggans
State Senator Tim Golden
State Senator Steve Gooch
State Senator Jack Hill
State Senator Rick Jeffares
State Senator William Ligon
State Senator Jack Murphy
State Senator Mitch Seabaugh
State Senator Ross Tolleson
State Representative Larry O’Neal, Republican Majority Leader
State Representative Matt Ramsey, Majority Caucus Vice Chairman
State Representative Allen Peake, Majority Caucus Secretary/Treasurer
State Representative Tim Bearden
State Representative Alex Atwood
State Representative Rick Austin
State Representative Charlice Byrd
State Representative Mike Cheokas
State Representative Josh Clark
State Representative Kevin Cooke
State Representative Mike Dudgeon
State Representative Allen Peake
State Representative Jimmy Pruett
State Representative Terry England
State Representative Rich Golick
State Representative Mark Hamilton
State Representative Billy Horne
State Representative Penny Houston
State Representative Tom McCall
State Representative John Meadows
State Representative James Mills
State Representative Jay Roberts
State Representative Ron Stephens
State Representative Tom Taylor

And I’m just STARTING:

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Gov. Perry works with the 16-member Texas Border Sheriff’s Association to deter illegal immigration and prevent border-related crime - Creates ‘Operation Linebacker” - Awards $6 Million to Border Counties for Border Security (2005)

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/2558/

(Excerpt)

Gov. Rick Perry today announced the award of $6 million in grants to strengthen security along the Texas-Mexico border. The funds will support Operation Linebacker, an initiative developed by the 16-member Texas Border Sheriff’s Association to deter illegal immigration and prevent border-related crime.

(snip)

“There can be no homeland security without border security,” Perry said. “Operation Linebacker makes sense because it gives new tools and resources to local law enforcement, the experts in the unique security challenges of the border.” The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition, which will receive $120,000 in grant funds, will coordinate the effort and develop specialized security plans for the unique needs of each county.

(snip)

In October Perry released a comprehensive, six-point border security plan that featured Operation Linebacker and also called for expedited efforts to achieve radio communications interoperability in the region, improved information technology, bilateral emergency response exercises, and legislative measures to enhance border security.

(End of Excerpt)

***

Gov. Perry Implements and Leads Operation Border Star

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-mexico-border-news/operation-border-star/about/

Operation Border Star

(Excerpt)

Operation Border Star is the most current iteration of Gov. Rick Perry’s state-led border security operations.
Perry began awarding grants to border sheriffs in 2006 to help them buy equipment and pay officers overtime to patrol rural areas of the Texas-Mexico border between ports of entry. The goal of the program is to increase law enforcement presence and deter crime on the border.
The first effort was called Operation Linebacker, and border deputies were assigned to serve as a second line of defense for U.S. Border Patrol agents on the Rio Grande.

(snip)

Operation Border Star was launched in 2007. Local and state agencies were provided grant funds to pay officers overtime to beef up border patrols and to coordinate intelligence gathering about crime on the border. The local and state agencies also coordinate and share information with federal agencies.

(End of Excerpt)

***

Gov. Perry Expanding Operation Border Star – Sends Rangers, Guard to the Border (2009)

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-mexico-border-news/texas-mexico-border/perry-sending-rangers-guard-to-the-border/

(Excerpt)

Gov. Rick Perry is expanding Operation Border Star, a multi-agency border security effort he launched in 2007, sending teams of Texas Rangers and National Guard troops to curb border crime and prevent spillover violence from Mexico.
“This is the latest in a series of aggressive actions we’ve taken to fill the gap left by the federal government’s ongoing failure to adequately secure our international border,” Perry announced in Houston.
He also reissued his call for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to send more National Guard troops to the border and said he has sunk another $2 million into his border Web camera program.

(snip)

Perry also briefly noted that he had awarded another $2 million grant to operate surveillance cameras on the border.
The Tribune reported yesterday that Perry had made the $2 million award to the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition despite documents that showed the camera program failed to meet nearly all of its law enforcement goals during the first full year it was operational.

Perry’s office argues that the camera program didn’t miss its goals but that the targets were improperly set at the outset of the first $2 million grant. The targets were revised after the first year; after the changes, they closely match that year’s actual results

(End of Excerpt)

***

Gov. Perry Announces Highly Skilled Ranger Recon Teams as Texas’ Latest Efforts to Enhance Border Security (2009)

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/13577/

(Excerpt)

In the absence of adequate federal resources to secure the state’s southern border, Gov. Rick Perry today announced the state’s latest border security enhancement using highly-skilled Ranger Reconnaissance (Ranger Recon) Teams to address the ever evolving threat along the Texas-Mexico border. He also repeated his call for Washington to approve the 1,000 Title 32 National Guard troops he has been requesting since January. Additionally, the governor announced the award of $2 million in state criminal justice funds to the Border Sheriff’s Coalition for continued utilization of video surveillance technology along the border.

“Texas’ proven border security strategy is based on putting boots on the ground and equipping those personnel with the technology, training and funding they need to stem the flow of contraband across our border. Deploying Ranger Recon Teams to high-traffic, high-crime areas along the border will enhance our efforts,” Gov. Perry said. “This is the latest in a series of aggressive actions we’ve taken to fill the gap left by the federal government’s ongoing failure to adequately secure our international border.”

Comprised of Texas Rangers and Texas National Guard Counterdrug forces, the Ranger Recon Teams are supported by the Operation Border Star Unified Command, including Texas sheriffs, Highway Patrol strike teams and Department of Public Safety aviation resources. This effort was launched in early August to address the increased burglaries of rural homes, ranches and hunting camps in remote areas along the Texas-Mexico border.

(End of Excerpt)

***

Governor Perry’s Letter to Barack Obama (2010)

http://governor.state.tx.us/files/press-office/080910_PerryObamaletter.pdf

***

Gov. Perry: Federal Government Must Take Action To Prevent Spillover Violence from Mexico Requests Predator Drones and National Guard Troops along Border (2010)

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/14341/

(Excerpt)

Last week, Gov. Perry sent a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting that the federal government utilize Unmanned Aircraft Systems, also known as predator drones, for missions over the Texas-Mexico border. This would provide an additional surveillance element, supplying valuable information to local, state and federal law enforcement along the border. Currently the three predator drones assigned to the southwest border are based in and operating exclusively in Arizona.

(snip)

Since January 2009, Gov. Perry has repeatedly urged the federal government, through letters to President Barack Obama, Secretary Janet Napolitano and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, to approve his request for 1,000 Title 32 National Guardsmen to support civilian law enforcement efforts to enhance border security in Texas. While Washington continues to review this request, more Americans are at risk of falling victim to the increasing violence.

A porous border places Texas and the nation at risk from international terrorists, organized crime cartels and transnational gangs. Until the federal government fulfills its responsibility of securing our border, Texas will continue filling in the gaps by putting more boots on the ground, providing increased law enforcement resources and leveraging technology along the border.

In the absence of adequate federal resources to secure the state’s southern border, Gov. Perry launched the state’s recent border security enhancement using highly-skilled Ranger Reconnaissance (Ranger Recon) Teams to address the ever evolving threat along the Texas-Mexico border. Additionally, under the governor’s leadership, and thanks to action taken by the Legislature, the state has dedicated more than $110 million to border security efforts in each of the last two legislative sessions.

(End of Excerpt)

___________

TO BE CONTINUED...

From: http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/16250/

Gov. Perry Adds Sanctuary Cities to Special Session Call
Also adds Secure Communities and issuance of Texas driver license
Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry announced the addition of legislation relating to the abolishment of sanctuary cities, the use of the federal Secure Communities program by law enforcement agencies, and the issuance of driver’s licenses and personal identification certificates to the special session call.

“Texas owes it to the brave law enforcement officials, who put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and communities, to give them the discretion they need to adequately do their jobs,” Gov. Perry said. “Abolishing sanctuary cities in Texas, using the federal Secure Communities program and ensuring that only individuals who are here legally can obtain a valid Texas driver’s license sends a clear message that Texas will not turn a blind eye to those breaking our laws.”

***

From: http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/16104/

Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on House Passage of House Bill 12
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

“I applaud members of the House for passing legislation that will ban sanctuary cities in Texas and commend Rep. Burt Solomons’ leadership on this issue, which will strengthen the discretion our law enforcement officers need to effectively protect Texans. I hope the Senate will take quick action on this important legislation.”

***

From: http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/16335/

Statement by Gov. Rick Perry Regarding Sanctuary City Legislation
Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry today released the following statement regarding sanctuary city legislation:

“As the special session appears to be winding down, I am disappointed the Legislature did not address sanctuary cities. Working with legislative leaders last weekend, we worked to include sanctuary city legislation in Senate Bill 1. Unfortunately, SB1 Conference Committee Chairman Robert Duncan ultimately refused to allow language related to the ban of sanctuary cities into the final version of Senate Bill 1. Because of this action, the special session will not provide our peace officers with the discretion they need to adequately keep Texans safe from those that would do them harm.”

Thanks Reagan Man!

Glad to hear about the 21 endorsements from SC legislators last week and also the endorsements of Senator Larry Grooms and Governors Bobby Jindel and Bob McDonnell.

Here are the 40 Maryland GOP legislators who endorsed Rick Perry earlier this week.

State Senator Chris Shank
State Delegate Wendell Beitzel
State Delegate Gail Bates
State Delegate Kathy Szeliga
State Delegate Nancy Stocksdale
State Delegate Kelly Schulz
State Delegate Justin Ready
State Delegate Steve Hershey
Finance Chairman Dick Hug, Bob Ehrlich for Governor, 2002 -2010
County Councilman Jerry Walker, Anne Arundel County
Commissioner Evan Slaughenhoupt, Calvert County
Commissioner Haven Shoemaker, Jr., Carroll County
Commissioner Doug Howard, Carroll County
Commissioner Blaine Young, Frederick County
Former Councilman Mike Christman, City of Annapolis
Former Commissioner Eric Wargotz, Queen Anne’s County
2nd Vice President Patt Parker, National Federation of Republican Women
1st Vice Chair Diana Waterman, Maryland State GOP
Former General Counsel Dirk Haire, Maryland State GOP
2nd Vice President Sylvia Darrow, Maryland Federation of Republican Women
3rd Vice President Catie Ravenscroft James, Maryland Federation of Republican Women
National Committeeman Trae Lewis, Maryland Young Republicans
Legal Counsel Jason Rheinstein, Maryland Young Republicans
Central Committee Member Flora Betro, Howard County
Central Committee Member Lisa Griffith, Allegany County
Central Committee Member Debbie Belcher, Anne Arundel County
Central Committee Member Jeanette Radford, Montgomery County
Central Committee Member Dwight Patel, Montgomery County
Central Committee Member Rachel Audi, Prince George’s County
Central Committee Member Alan Rzepkowski, Anne Arundel County
Central Committee Member Sastry Dhara, Montgomery County
Central Committee Member John Milden, Montgomery County
Central Committee Member Joe Collins, Jr., Baltimore City
Central Committee Member Gary Collins, Baltimore City
Former Central Committee Member Doug Burkhardt, City of Annapolis
Former Central Committee Member Brandon Wright, City of Annapolis
Former Central Committee Member Ruth Umbel, Garrett County
Former Central Committee Member April Rose, Carroll County
Board Member Michelle Corkadel, West Anne Arundel County Republican Club
Former President Diane Nash Dillon, Chevy Chase Women’s Republican Club

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