Rick Perry: ‘I regret’ calling for the elimination of the Energy Department

Washington Times ^ | 01/19/2017 | By Ben Wolfgang

[SeekAndFind]

As he tries to convince the Senate to put him in charge of the Energy Department, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry will tell lawmakers Thursday that he was wrong to recommend eliminating that same department.

During his 2012 presidential campaign, Mr. Perry, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for energy secretary, advocated getting rid of the Energy Department, along with several other federal agencies. At one GOP primary debate he was unable to remember all of the departments he sought to scrap, leading to his infamous “Oops” moment.

More than four years later, Mr. Perry now is a full-throated supporter of the Energy Department and said he’s learned a great deal about the agency’s role through conversations with current Secretary Ernest Moniz and others.

“I have learned a great deal about the important work being done every day by the outstanding men and women of the DOE. I have spoken several times to Secretary Moniz and his predecessors. If confirmed, my desire is to lead this agency in a thoughtful manner, surrounding myself with expertise on the core functions of the department,” Mr. Perry will tell the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday morning, according to excerpts released by the Trump transition team.

“My past statements made over five years ago about abolishing the Department of Energy do not reflect my current thinking,” the former governor will say. “In fact, after being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the Department of Energy, I regret recommending its elimination. If confirmed, I will enter this role excited and passionate about advancing the core missions of the DOE, and drawing greater attention to the vital role played by the agency and the hard working men and women who dedicate themselves in pursuit of these missions.”

[VideoDoctor]

the other big reason was to have one Department handle all aspects of the nation’s nuclear program (from reactors to bombs to disposal of waste).the other big reason was to have one Department handle all aspects of the nation’s nuclear program (from reactors to bombs to disposal of waste).

I had always thought all of that should have been handled by the Atomic Energy Commission which was formed after WW II.

[Impy]

Perry took the job thinking it was something like being “an Ambassador for the oil and gas industry”. Which was what he thought they did when he proposed eliminating it! Hahaha.