Posted on 12/07/2004 11:49:04 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Two political heavyweights who may face off in the 2006 GOP primary addressed more than 1,000 members of the Texas Farm Bureau on Monday — a reminder of how powerful agricultural interests are in Texas.
Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke at the Texas Farm Bureau convention at the Marriott Rivercenter.
The visits, which ran about 21/2 hours apart, covered topics affecting the state's farming and ranching industries.
Perry pledged to cut property taxes and see that Mexico complies with a 1944 treaty to provide water to the United States.
He also said a stronger educational system will help Texas farmers compete "in this truly worldwide global economy."
School funding is expected to be a thorny issue during the upcoming legislative session.
Hutchison, meanwhile, said she is committed to abolishing the estate tax, which threatens farmers' ability to pass on land to future generations.
She touted the 2002 federal farm bill that provided $82 billion in new assistance to farmers nationwide and said a bill she co-sponsored will allow Texans to deduct sales tax for the 2004 and 2005 tax years.
The policy speeches also were a nod to one of the most influential constituencies in Texas politics less than two years before the 2006 governor's race.
Perry is running for re-election, and there is speculation that Hutchison, a two-term senator, might seek the office.
Hutchison said Monday that "I just haven't ruled anything in or anything out, but I probably won't be making a decision until summer."
A Montgomery & Associates poll to be released today shows Texas Republican primary voters support Hutchison over Perry by almost 2 to 1. But the governor's campaign staff is disputing the poll's methodology, saying it includes people who don't always vote in the primary.
Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke said the presence of the two politicos indicates their commitment to the needs of the farming and ranching community.
The Farm Bureau's endorsements are made through the organization's political action committee, the Texas Farm Bureau AgFund.
The fund endorsed Perry for agriculture commissioner in 1990, for re-election in 1994, and for governor in 2002, but backed John Sharp over then Agriculture Commissioner Perry for lieutenant governor in 1998.
The fund supported Hutchison for state treasurer in 1990 and for U.S. senator in 1993 (special election), 1996 and 2000.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- rrodriguez@express-news.net
Anybody seen this poll?
Democrat Pollster Ping!
...... and so it begins ....
I had dinner once with Kay before she married Ray Barnhart. I'v never met Perry but I'm voting for him.
Ray Barnhart = Ray Hutchinson. Sorry.
bump!
Why don't they just do a switcharoo, Perry for Senate, Huchison for Governor?
I'd perfer it that way anyway. Huchison would be a decent Governor, and her views on abortion wouldn't be as relevant in the Governors mansion as they would be in the Senate. (Perry is pro-life, right?)
I prefer Perry over Hutchison as governor. But anyone is preferable to One Tough Grandma Carole Keeton Strylander Whateveritisnow.
Wondering the same thing myself. Perry would win, which is not what would happen should he run in a primary against Kay.
Well, I suppose that could be interpreted a few different ways.
We need to talk. Perry needs to go if we run YOU against him.
Oh my. He must be total pondscum!
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