Remember, this in the context of confirming hearings where the Senate is controlled by Republicans and his confirmation is expected to sail through committee without incident.
He'd have nothing to lose by saying he stands by statements from 2012 that the department may be unnecessary and if he is DOE Secretary, he would do so if that's the best course of action. However, he said the opposite at his confirmation hearing.
The ONLY reason Perry has "evolved" on this issue is because he'd rather have a nice cushy federal job than have to stick with his "principles" and work to dismantle his department.
It's like we told his supporters (in vain) during the 2012 campaign: Perry talks tough on the campaign trail, then is Mr. Softie when it comes to actually governing.
If Perry's statements at his confirmation mean nothing and he actually makes an effort to abolish the DOE and transfer its functions to other Departments during his tenure, I'll be shocked and thrilled that I was wrong. As it stands, (and looking at his behavior as Governor and statements at the committee hearing), I'd give it about an 85% chance the DOE INCREASES in size under Perry.
Yes, I'm cynical, but this guy is only against "big government" when someone else is in charge of it.
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.