The Washington Times, a conservative-leaning periodical based in the nation's Capitol, ran an opinion piece by Gov. Rick Perry today extolling the virtues of limited government, using the Lone Star State as evidence, and, of course, slamming the kind of big, perpetual, all-encompassing government that reigns (pardon the pun) inside the beltway.

"In Texas, we have long based our approach on individual liberty and initiative, believing that families, entrepreneurs and individual citizens deserve the opportunity to strive and succeed -- with minimal government interference," Perry wrote. "After regular, 140-day legislative sessions every two years, Texas lawmakers go home to live under the laws they pass."

He goes on to tout the accomplishments of the 81st Legislative Session, pointing to the balanced budget and the $9 billion unspent for future state needs.

Of course, the state relied on $12 billion in federal HR 1 (so-called "stimulus") money to balance the budget without tapping that rainy day fund, or raising taxes somewhere, or (perish the thought) cutting state expenditures -- a point amply made in an op-ed by Kay Bailey Hutchison which ran in the Austin American Statesman yesterday. In it, she criticizes Perry as "hypocritical" for slamming Washington but taking the money. She also criticizes Perry for not taking the $550 million in stimulus dollars that would have required to expand its unemployment benefits.

Said Hutchison: "I voted against every dollar of stimulus spending this year. In my view, the stimulus proposals were excessive. But once these laws were approved, and Texas taxpayer money was committed, I did my best to make certain the state got back its share of those tax dollars."

Back to Perry. He goes on to defend his repeated remarks about state's rights. "Washington's current fiscal excesses and unprecedented expansion have placed the protections and powers embodied in the 10th Amendment at risk. As the federal government expands before our very eyes, those of us who value freedom are simply sounding the alarm with every means available. We cannot remain silent while the powers-that-be in Washington methodically dismantle the system that has allowed Americans to determine their own destiny, compete on their own merits and enjoy the fruits of their labors."