Posted on 09/26/2009 11:45:28 AM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
Gov. Rick Perry never had much money growing up, and he has spent most of his adult life in public office, drawing a part-time salary as a legislator and relatively modest earnings in statewide office for the last quarter century.
But thanks to his investments and a series of private land deals, some that took advantage of his political connections, Perry has squeaked over the millionaire line, records examined by The Associated Press show.
Perry's Democratic opponents have suggested that Perry traded on his power and influence to turn a buck. Now that he is in a tough primary for a third full term, Perry's Republican opponent, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, is raising the same accusations.
"Rick Perry should do an infomercial on how to become a millionaire as a professional politician," said Hutchison campaign manager Terry Sullivan. "From abusing his power over appointments to getting sweetheart real estate deals from supporters, he's a regular get-rich-quick icon."
Perry aides say the governor has benefited from nothing more than strong business acumen and good timing. He has also lost some dough along the way, most notably last year, when a trust fund he owns took a huge hit during the Wall Street meltdown and shed more than a half million dollars in short and long-term losses, tax records show. Aides note that he has one home and is putting a kid through college, like many Texans.
The West Texas ranch boy won a state House seat in 1984 and has never yet lost an election. A former Texas A&M yell leader and Air Force pilot, Perry was elected agriculture commissioner in 1990 and then lieutenant governor in 1998. He took over as governor in 2000 when Gov. George W. Bush became president, and finishing his second term has gone on to
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Further, Perry is not against invoking the 10th, and has offered assurances more than once that he will do so if Bambi-Care passes.
If he does it, if he holds true to his word, I will relinquish all my other volunteer duties and devote myself to helping his re-election campaign 100%.
Freepmail me or ping me from the original thread to get on/off the 2010 Texas Governor's Race ping list.
Ping
In Chicago, Perry would be forced to attend remedial courses on graft and public bribery.
Sure after sitting on his a$$ doing nothing for ten years. If he didn't have an opponent he would still be combing his hair.
Thanks for your commitment to volunteer for Gov. Perry. Please let me know if you will need money to pay for the toll roads you will have to use in order to travel around the state of Texas during your efforts.
Also, while you are traveling around the state to help the governor, please make sure your backseat passengers are wearing their seat belts as Gov. Perry signed a law requiring that they do so.
You might also want to hire an illegal alien to help you and in Texas, thanks to Gov. Perry, our illegal aliens are well educated as they pay in-state tuition to our public universities.
I lived in Northern Va during the real estate boom. I knew people who put there house on the market at $250,000 and had people bidding the property up and they made and extra $100,000. Get over it. It’s called making $$$$.
Another politician that becomes a millionaire while holding a government position, while millions have lost their jobs, homes, pensions, investments, had their hours slashed, benefits cut, etc....
What a shock!
Texas Governor Rick Perry, who's earned the nickname 'Governor Good Hair' for his tamed tresses, seems to also be interested in everyone else's. At a press conference with Rudy Giuliani on September 15th, the Republican who's running for re-election greeted a supporter by running his fingers through his hair.
So a poor boy is bad because he went up the ladder. If Perry made his money by crooked deal then let his accusers prove it.
KBH should be ashamed to run such a campaign against a fellow Republican. Again, if Perry has broken laws,prove it or shut up. There is no law against making money within our laws.
I am not a Texan so no idea how Perry made his money,or if he is a good Governor.
He must be fairly honest are he would have made millionaire status a long time ago. All the criticism in the article can be said of every political in office. Especially Democrats. I don’t notice any articles bringing their financial status to light.
“Gov. Rick Perry’s wealth fueled by land deals”
So? So was Obama and every democrat on Congress. Just a character assassinaion attempt at a terrific governor.
Our country would be a hell of a lot better off if our political class as a whole did nothing.
As a NY transplant, the toll roads and seatbelts aren't anything compared to the level of control I've lived under, or how bad it could be if we let the great State of Texas slip into liberal/RINO hands.
The illegals? Yeah, that's a HUGE sore spot with me, too. I'm sick of the lip service to national security when we have thousands of people sneaking into our country every day! We are supposed to be a nation that respects the rule of law!
Remember, I said in my original post "IF." I'm not crawling over broken glass for Perry, but I will IF he actually holds true to his word and invokes the 10th.
The Obamumnists are hell-bent on dragging our country towards a totalitarian regime. I'll saddle up beside anyone who puts the rights of citizens FIRST.
Who's the alternative? Kay? With her "big tent" Washington mindset?
No thanks.
Has the AP looked into how Charlie Rangel has become a millionaire? I guess they can’t because that would be racist.
I cannot tell you how many times I have faxed letters to KB Hutchinson telling her FAT CHANCE of becoming Governor of Texas.
The woman votes too many times with the socialists as she did last week with the HUD appropriations bill!!!
I didn’t always agree with Perry, especially on the trans-Mexico corridor, but we slapped him up side the head and he did eventually get the message!
Right now is NOT the time to have a socialist leaning republican in the Texas Mansion. We need the strongest meanest son of a female dog we can find, because this may all boil down to leading on a secession movement if we can’t get these commies out of Washington DC.
Not to mention that I was watching from a fourth floor window as Ronnie Earle toted boxes of evidence out of her state office that she was using to run her campaign out of.
She has a powerful political machine. We’ve got to figure out a way to stop her. She will play not only on the republicans, but also she will try to bring over a lot of the democrats.
Gonna be a tough fight.
I think you took the words right out of my mouth. On about 9/12, maybe as late as 9/13 I was emailing and writing snailmail letters and postcards for Gov. "Goodhair" to SECURE THE BORDER! And as you very well know, nothing happened.
Now he's waving the 10th Amendment like a Defender of the Truth and helpless damsels in distress, did he just wake up? No, ELECTION time is coming up! My goodness, who woulda thought.
And then there's KBH, *groan*... We are in a world of hurt.
The Dallas Morning Snooze is just jealous that someone is making money. That certainly isn’t the case with that litter box liner.
A little Dolph Briscoe here.
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