Bogus "14 Reasons" - Here's the truth

There's been an email going around with out and out lies about the Texas economy and half truths or lies about our Governor Perry. I worked on this last weekend, sitting up most of Sunday night and rechecking my facts and numbers this morning. Here's the truth:

#1 Rick Perry is a "big government" politician. When Rick Perry became the governor of Texas in 2000, the total spending by the Texas state government was approximately $49 billion. Ten years later it was approximately $90 billion. That is not exactly reducing the size of government.

During that same period, Texas' population increased by about 20% ( and we grow 1000 - 1300 people a day from people moving in from all over the US) and aggregate inflation over that period was about 25%. So the actual growth of government was 39% over 10 years, or less than 3% per year.

#2 The debt of the state of Texas is out of control. According to usdebtclock.org, the debt to GDP ratio in Texas is 22.9% and the debt per citizen is $10,645. In California (a total financial basket case), the debt to GDP ratio is just 18.7% and the debt per citizen is only $9932. If Rick Perry runs for president these are numbers he will want to keep well hidden..

These are completely false numbers. In fact, Texas received a credit upgrade this week.

Go to the US Debt Clock Website or Texas' Debt Clock. I checked this morning, August 16, 2011, in order to make sure I had the correct numbers: Texas has a debt to GDP ratio of 18.5% and a debt per person of $8345 - down from last week's $8930.

The truth is that Texas is second lowest State in debt compared to personal income. Half our our debt is bonds voted on by the People at election time. The other half is mostly "self-supported debt" - like student loans - that is paid off when people pay interest on the loans. Texas has decreased "non-self-supported debt" by 16%.

#3 The total debt of the Texas government has more than doubled http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/mar/04/bill-white/white-says-texas-debt-has-doubled-under-perry/ since Rick Perry became governor. So what would the U.S. national debt look like after four (or eight) years of Rick Perry?

The "more than doubled" number includes city, county, and school districts -- not just State debt. See # 2 and the link that notes that the People voted to allow TXDOT to borrow money (Bonds) in 2001 and voted to sell bonds for the creation of the Texas Cancer Prevention and Research Institute. Everyone should quit voting for more debt when those amendments come up at election time!

#4 Rick Perry has spearheaded the effort to lease roads in Texas to foreign companies, to turn roads that are already free to drive on into toll roads, and to develop the Trans-Texas Corridor which would be part of the planned NAFTA superhighway system. If you really do deep research on this whole Trans-Texas Corridor nonsense you will see why no American should ever cast a single vote for Rick Perry.

The Legislature stopped the above, Perry signed the Bill. But, the Legislature introduced Regional Mobility Authorities, etc., which can make these deals. It was on the ballot and the People of Texas voted to pass the Constitutional Amendment to allow borrowing in the form of bonds in 2001.

Perry put SB 18, a bill to protect private property rights from the misuse of eminent domain, on his "Emergency" fast track this year and signed the Bill into law at the first Regular Session. That law limits the use of eminent domain to public use, requires a formal "bona fide offer" process, mandates a market price and allows the original owner to buy the land back in 10 years for the LESSER of either the original price or the current market price if it's not used for the stated purpose.

#5 Rick Perry claims that he has a "track record" of not raising taxes. That is a false claim. Rick Perry has repeatedly raised taxes and fees while he has been governor. Today, Texans are faced with significantly higher taxes and fees than they were before Rick Perry was elected.

These are cigarette taxes, user fees, etc. that were raised when the school property tax was lowered in 2006.

#6 Even with the oil boom in Texas, 23 states have a lower unemployment rate than Texas does.

We are increasing jobs faster than most and have produced more NEW jobs than all the other States put together.

Our unemployment rate is impacted by our illegal immigrants and legal immigrants. 1000 people come in legally each day. If the rest of the US were adding jobs at the rate that Texas is, the US unemployment rate would be 7.9%.

#7 Back in 1988, Rick Perry supported Al Gore for president. In fact, Rick Perry actually served as Al Gore's campaign chairman in the state of Texas that year.

Al Gore was Pro-life, Pro-marriage, and Pro-Israel in 1988 - he got most of his grief in that race from opponents backing Jesse Jackson because he was Pro-Israel.

Governor Perry's dad was a Democratic County Commissioner. Governor Perry said in 1985 that he was going to make the Democrats move right. By 1989, he changed Parties. His home County still voted Democrat in 2006.

#8 Between December 2007 and April 2011, weekly wages in the U.S. increased by about 5 percent. In the state of Texas they increased by just 0.6% over that same time period.

The false number proves that there's lies, darned lies and statistics. (That, and don't use Rachel Maddow for your source.) It costs less to live here, too.

#9 Texas now has one of the worst education systems in the nation. The following is from an opinion piece that was actually authored by Barbara Bush earlier this year....

• We rank 36th in the nation in high school graduation rates. An estimated 3.8 million Texans do not have a high school diploma. • We rank 49th in verbal SAT scores, 47th in literacy and 46th in average math SAT scores. • We rank 33rd in the nation on teacher salaries.

These numbers are useless without telling us what the same numbers were before 2000. Are we better or worse than we were?

They are strongly influenced by the poor performance of the school districts in the inner cities of Houston, Dallas, and El Paso, plus our border areas. It's aggravated by the illegal aliens that are unstable or just through the State.

#10 Rick Perry attended the Bilderberg Group meetings in 2007. Associating himself with that organization should be a red flag for all American voters.

Governor Perry was invited to speak as the Governor of the State of Texas, which would be the 17th largest economy if we were an independent Nation.

#11 Texas has the highest percentage of workers making minimum wage out of all 50 states.

At least they're working and not on unemployment. Our job force and our job numbers are growing much faster than the rest of the Nation.

#12 Rick Perry often gives speeches about illegal immigration, but when you look at the facts, he has been incredibly soft on the issue. If Rick Perry does not plan to secure the border, then he should not be president because illegal immigration is absolutely devastating many areas of the southwest United States.

Perry has always advocated for “boots on the ground” at the border, but has been unable to get the Feds to send the manpower. He’s advocated letting the military practice the use of unmanned Predator aircraft along our border ("They’ve gotta practice somewhere” )

There are National Guard troops on the Border. Perry has repeatedly asked for more and recently won approval for the 1200 (we only got about 250) that have been deployed to stay longer. Read this news report from a year ago.

As a direct result of the Governor alerting the Texas Republican Congressman about Obama’s plan to remove the National Guard after less than 6 months, we'll have them longer. News report, here, from last month about the extension.

More, here http://www.freerepublic.com/%5Ehttp://wingright.org/2011/08/06/perry-palin-fish-or-cut-bait/

Watch and listen to Governor Perry talking with Greta van Susteren about the border. boots on the ground, and the problems with the fence. (You can see and hear the Texas Ranger helicopters in the background.)

He created the Ranger Recon force, sending 150 Texas Rangers (one riot, one Ranger) to the border along with helicopters and Texas Guardsmen. He demanded and got National Guard and two unmanned drones. He got the National Guard deployment extended beyond the original 6 months. Unfortunately, Texas only got 1/4 of the Guardsmen and 2/8 of the drones.

Texas (with our costs from the ICE detention center detainees being dumped in the State by Homeland security, support of Katrina refugees, our natural disasters like Ike, wildfires, and tornadoes) is expected to pay for our own Guard if we want them here after September.

The Legislature refused to fund his virtual border, so he used money from the Governor’s discretionary fund. In some cases, local sheriffs and cities refused to cooperate.

Here’s an article from January of this year showing resistance from border Sheriff Wiles.

#13 In 2007, 221,000 residents of Texas were making minimum wage or less. By 2010, that number had risen to 550,000.

AT LEAST THEY'RE WORKING!!! (Do you want the Federal Government to raise minimum salary, again? Or how about a Chicago-style "living wage" requirement that runs businesses out?)

#14 Rick Perry actually issued an executive order in 2007 that would have forced almost every single girl in the state of Texas to receive the Gardasil vaccine before entering the sixth grade. Perry would have put parents in a position where they would have had to fill out an application and beg the government not to inject their child with a highly controversial vaccine. Since then, very serious safety issues regarding this vaccine have come to light. Fortunately, lawmakers in Texas blocked what Perry was trying to do. According to Wikipedia, many were troubled when "apparent financial connections between Merck and Perry were reported by news outlets, such as a $6,000 campaign contribution and Merck's hiring of former Perry Chief of Staff Mike Toomey to handle its Texas lobbying work."

Gardasil is a good vaccine. The truth, according to a complete review by the CDC and the FDA, is that there have been no Deaths due to the vaccine.

You can spout all the facts you want but when God says you’re wrong I’ll stick with that. Perry says he’s a Christian but makes a serious misjudgment when it comes to Muslims. Any way you look at it, claiming a Muslim and Islam is due “profound respect” is not garnering God’s blessings. I’ll not support a man who God says is “partaker of his evil deeds”. Here’s the quote from Perry.

“It is a great honor to be in the presence of the Imam of 16 million Muslims around the world, a global humanitarian leader, a man of peace with a pluralistic vision for people around the world, His Highness, the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. Your Highness, on behalf of 23 million Texans, and over 600,000 thousand Muslims living in Texas, I extend our heartfelt appreciation for your 50 years of great international leadership. We are delighted to welcome you to the Lone Star State and participate in the celebration of your Golden Jubilee. I am also grateful to the many federal, state and local leaders in attendance tonight. By their presence, these special guests convey the profound respect that exists in the Western World for His Highness’ work and leadership.”

Here’s what scripture says about that.

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9

Interesting read here...EV...there are Texans opposing Perry.....

“Those members who live in the Lone Star State are particularly vexed.

“Rick Perry may be the flavor of the day for a lot of Republicans, but ‘Texas Republican’s who are familiar with his record are a lot less enthusiastic about his presidential run.

Perry has a unique talent for finding new ways to raise taxes and loves to use taxpayer money to subsidize his business cronies,” says Dave Nalle,’ secretary of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas.’

“His supposed belief in limited government and states rights conveniently disappears whenever it conflicts with the demands of the special interests and corporate cronies who he serves,”Mr. Nalle says,.... adding that his group is .....“compiling a complete dossier on Perry to share with fellow Republicans outside their state so that they can be informed about what they are being sold in a Perry presidential candidacy.”

Here are Perry’s most recent comments on the Gardasil business (from yesterday):

“I hate cancer. And this HPV, we were seeing young ladies die at the early age. What we should have done was a program that frankly should have allowed them to opt in, or some type of program like that, but here’s what I learned — when you get too far out in front of the parade they will let you know. And that’s exactly what our legislature did.”

http://www.lifenews.com/2011/08/15/rick-perry-admits-mistake-on-gardasil-hpv-vaccine-decision/

No, requiring vaccination is a public health measure that has been a traditional function of government for ages.

Because herd immunity is part of the recipe for protection against epidemics, the government does have the authority to require it for the 'general welfare and safety'.

Whether the particular vaccination is wise or efficacious is a question to be resolved in the legislature when the law is enacted, but there's no question that requiring vaccinations is within the authorized power of the government.

in the presence of the Imam of 16 million Muslims around the world

Perry's statement about this Imam is chilling.

I have seen posted that the Imam's group is small.....'16 million" underlings is NOT a small group.....I would also be interested to see if this so called "moderate" group adhere's to Sariah Law. I'll be looking into that soon.

'The Center for Security Policy' have some very interesting articles and videos of prominate congressional and CIA specialists on the Shariah threat to America......they have reported directly to congress their report.

In this report they do state that it is not only the so called "fringe" element of ISlam who are pushing our country toward Shariah law by radical means....but that the so called "moderates" also can and do adhere to Islams Totalitarian Ideology to replace our Gov. and Constitution with Sariah Law.

Here's the link for those interested:...Scroll to the bottom for more interesting reads from these well informed men and women. http://shariahthethreat.org/team-b-ii-calls-upon-congressional-leaders-to-investigate-muslim-brotherhood-influence-in-and-penetration-of-the-us-government/

>>Because herd immunity is part of the recipe for protection against epidemics, the government does have the authority to require it for the 'general welfare and safety'.<<

So you would also say that the government should control the foods we eat also? After all, high sugar foods cause obesity and that has become an “epidemic” in the US, right? How about demanding that no fossil fuels be used? Using fossil fuels pollutes the air we breath and that causes and “epidemic” of breathing problems and cancer, right?

At what point would you suggest the government has gone too far?

I have seen posted that the Imam's group is small.....'16 million" underlings is NOT a small group.

Everything is relative. Sixteen million out of over a billion muslims is a ver small group (less than 1%).

I would also be interested to see if this so called "moderate" group adhere's to Sariah Law.

Considering this group does not veil their women, encourages education of women, etc, I doubt they subscribe to a strict interpretation of sharia law.

Reductio ad absurdum.

Not your fault, because the 'progressives' do their best to confuse everyone by calling everything an 'epidemic'.

None of those supposed problems are really an 'epidemic' in the true sense of the word, since they are non-communicable 'diseases'. Preventing the spread of communicable diseases is the classic government function -- it goes back at least to pulling the handle off the Broad Street pump in 1854, and in a more general sense to the "plague stones" at the time of the Black Death:

. . . while Jack was pointing me out his steeple, we saw a man lying drunk, as he conceived, athwart the road. He said it would be one Hebden, a parishioner, and till then a man of good life; and he accused himself bitterly for an unfaithful shepherd, that had left his flock to follow princes. But I saw it was the plague, and not the beginnings of it neither. They had set out the plague-stone, and the man’s head lay on it.’
‘What’s a plague-stone?’ Dan whispered.
‘When the plague is so hot in a village that the neighbours shut the roads against ’em, people set a hollowed stone, pot, or pan, where such as would purchase victual from outside may lay money and the paper of their wants, and depart. Those that would sell come later — what will a man not do for gain? — snatch the money forth, and leave in exchange such goods as their conscience reckons fair value. I saw a silver groat in the water, and the man’s list of what he would buy was rain-pulped in his wet hand.
‘“My wife! Oh, my wife and babes!” says Jack of a sudden, and makes uphill — I with him.

- Kipling, "A Doctor of Medicine"

1) So the government grew by nearly half it’s size in just a decade?

The spending to GDP ratio for the state of Texas grew just 1.5% over ten years - that is .15% per year. So state spending was kept in proportion to the size of the economy. Like it or not, as the population grows and as the economy thrives, their is an increased need for government services. But there is no evidence that Texas went on a spending spree.

3) Numbers are numbers. You said yourself that the state passed a lot of bond issues... meaning the state borrowed the money.

The debt to gdp ratio for Texas went down during the 10 years that Perry was governor. Texas went from having the 8th lowest debt to GDP ratio in 2000 to having the 2nd lowest in 2010.

5) We have the same issue in Maine: an independent and then a democrat governor, both of whom increased evry conceivable use tax, fee, etc. over the last decade but ran on a platform of never raising INCOME taxes. The end result is that the people of Maine are left with less money in their pockets while the government has increased its regulatory power.

In 2001, when Perry took office, Texas had the 5th lowest per capita state taxes in the country. In 2010, the last year for which figures are available, Texas had the 5th lowest per capita state taxes in the country. Taxes went up slightly during that time, but they went up all across the US at about the same rate.

Perry believes the border is a federal issue, which backs up HIS ABSOLUTE SUPPORT FOR GRANTING AMNESTY TO ILLEGAL ALIENS. While he talks a good game, he signed the TX DREAM Act, supports sactuary city policies and benefits for illegal aliens, and has also signed legislation that keeps guidelines inplace to keep LE from finding illegals.

You make a leap of logic that is not supported by the facts. I have not seen anything posted where Perry states that he supports amnesty. The Texas DREAM Act has nothing to do with amnesty (it couldn't - citzenship is strictly a federal prerogative). Also, Perry introduced legislation banning sanctuary cities in the last special session.

14) I think the point is that it is not the pervue of the government to force a vaccination for non-lethal diseases on anyone. Perry’s position was that of a big-government advocate... which is the point of his detractors.

While I don't support Perry's actions here, and he has admitted that he was wrong, it is a mistake to characterize this as a "vaccination for non-lethal diseases". Cervical cancer is extremely lethal.

Well, do you suppose they could have Jamatkhana mosques in Pakistan and Afghanistan if they DIDN’T? Surely, you are not that naive. And surely you have by now heard the word taqiyya.
The rate at which they are building mosques in Texas is astounding, not to mention each one’s size and scope. And to ease the misgivings of us infidels, they even disguise their mosques and build them using modern architecture without the minarets. They don’t CALL them mosques either. They call them Jamatkhanas and learning centers. They are MOSQUES.
“Ismailis belong to the Shia tradition of Islam, which is a sect of the Shiite group. As such, they believe in one God and consider the Quran the holy text through which God’s words were revealed to the prophet Muhammad. They believe that Muhammad was the last of God’s messengers to mankind.”
Furthermore, islam is being taught in the public schools and colleges in Texas as per an agreement with these people. Try teaching Christianity there, why don’t ya.
You can tout Perry all you please. You can explain away and wash away all his sins until he glows in the dark, but you cannot refute that the man promotes shia islam in Texas, and just like Bush, he will do the same thing nationally. Bank on it.

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