Jan
15
Written by:
Mark Lavergne
1/15/2010 2:07 PM
One got the sense that after last night’s debate, Gov. Rick Perry was just letting it all hang out as he gave the keynote speech at the luncheon closing out the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s annual policy orientation. He improvised a number of jokes and diverted from his prepared remarks for almost two minutes at one point to reiterate his basic formula of conservative governance – a formula that has worked well as his re-election campaign mantra.
Said Perry:
You don’t have to be an expert in political science to understand the concepts of government. They’re really very simple. Don’t spend all the money. Keep taxes low. Have a regulatory environment that’s fair, and predictable. Have a legal system that doesn’t allow for frivolous lawsuits, and an accountable public school system so that those businesses as they come, they know there will be a skilled workforce. Then get out of the way. And let the private sector do what the private sector does best and that’s create those jobs … The hard part is having the courage. From my view that’s what’s wrong in Washington DC. There’s not the courage to stand up and say ‘We need to pass a constitutional amendment in America for a balanced budget for this country.
Perry got applause here. He continued:
You want to change this country forever … that’s the way.
… That wasn’t in any of my remarks, I just got carried away.
Perry repeated that that formula for governance was the reason Texas has done comparatively well during the recession.
Perry also informed the attendees of the following:
*Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus have sent a letter asking each state agency to submit a plan detailing savings up to five percent that will minimize the impact on direct services. As in the debate last night, he cited his experience of making difficult cuts during tough economic times in 2003.
*The State Board of education voted unanimously to adopt a resolution supporting Perry’s refusal to compete for federal Race to the Top education funds by submitting to national curriculum standards. (Commissioner Robert Scott speaks on this issue in an interview published in today’s LSR.)
“How often does the State Board of Education vote for anything unanimously?” Perry joked impromptu, getting an understanding laugh from the audience.
Former Drug Czar and longtime conservative pundit William Bennett introduced Perry, extolling the limited government principles Perry espoused impromptu during his speech, and even commended Perry himself, saying Texas was “lucky” to have him. Brooke Rollins also thanked Perry for his “responsible action” – referencing a George Washington quote – as governor.
In other words, it would appear that Kay bailey Hutchison’s claims that Perry has raised taxes and grown government, be they true or untrue, do not seem to be sticking in conservative circles.