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October 20, 2011
Rick Perry Has Made Texas One of the Most Industry-friendly States in the Nation
Rick Perry has made Texas one of the most industry-friendly states in the nation
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Gov. Rick Perry likes to say the best way to promote economic growth is to reduce regulation. When it comes to the environment, Perry has made Texas one of the most industry-friendly states in the nation.
Perry has cut funding for clean air programs and sued the Environmental Protection Agency to avoid enforcing laws to make the air cleaner. As part of his Republican presidential campaign, he routinely blasts the White House for tightening environmental standards.
“As president, I would roll back the radical agenda of President Obama’s job-killing Environmental Protection Agency,” Perry wrote recently in an op-ed for the New Hampshire Union-Leader. “Our nation does not need costly new federal restrictions, especially during our present economic crisis.”
Those positions get big applause at Republican debates and fundraisers, and also provide insight into how he would govern if elected, particularly when it comes to the EPA.
In Texas, Perry signed a state budget that slashes funding for the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality from $833.3 million to $565.5 million over the next two years. In his budget proposal, Perry had provided even less: $552.5 million. Texas boasts the second largest environmental agency in the world, behind only the EPA; the state agency had requested $882.6 million just to maintain current programs.
The cuts were part of the governor’s plan to slash $15 billion in state spending to cope with revenue shortfalls in the sagging economy. Environmentalists complained that the cuts will hurt the most effective clean air programs in the state, including ones that were helping to reduce auto emissions.
Perry used the EPA as his punching bag during his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, and he is using the federal agency as a foil again in the presidential race
Executives in the state’s oil and gas industry, the nation’s largest, say they have enjoyed a cooperative relationship with the Texas’ environmental agency, despite tougher federal rules.
“Texas always has been, and has continued to be under Governor Perry, one of the states where it’s a more friendly regulatory environment,” said David Blackmon, director of government relations for Houston-based El Paso Corp. The national natural gas company operates the nation’s largest interstate pipeline system, which runs through 29 states.
Federal regulations have increased under Perry’s tenure, but Texas has implemented fewer new rules than most other states. Blackmon said the real difference between states is the administrative costs of obtaining permits.
He said the Texas agency has “reached out to business and found solutions that not only cleaned up the air, but did it in a way that has a minimal impact on our ability to do business.”
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Another new measure made tightening air quality permits on the oil and gas industry more difficult. That law, which Perry signed in June, requires the Texas environmental agency to analyze the effect of new regulation on the economy — including how it might hurt a company — before implementation. The economic impact could override the environmental benefit of the new regulation.
The new law reflects Perry’s contention that global warming is a questionable theory and that regulation always creates an adverse business climate.
During an August campaign swing through New Hampshire, Perry said of climate change, “I don’t think, from my perspective, that I want to be engaged in spending that much money on still a scientific theory that has not been proven, and from my perspective, is more and more being put into question.”
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Perry spars with Romney at CNN Debate over illegal immigration ~ I LOVED this, Perry stayed strong and Romney got all red faced.
...That's -- I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals. -- Mitt Romney, GOP presidential debate - October 18, 2011 - Las Vegas, NV
Note : Romney didn’t object to having undocumented workers working for him because it’s illegal; he objected because he thought it would hurt his political career.
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Wild Thing's comment........
Regarding the debate clip I posted I was truly impressed with Perry in the debate. He needed to come on strong and he did. Not like a bully but with strength and used the truth to go at his opponents.
Interesting to note Romney this morning came out with a vile video of Perry that was filled with lies about Perry. It was really bad and went virial on the internet pretty fast. I guess Romney's campaign got some serious feedback about it being way below the belt so they took it down. But then hours later Romney came out with yet another one filled with lies . Plus the Mitt Romney camp, launched an anti-Rick Perry website, careerpolitician.com. LOL now isn't that a tactic that Obama used, he sure did. I put the link because you might want to see the horrible video Romney has there.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 20, 2011 04:45 AM
Comments
The trick toward enhancing the environment and boosting the economy is for the EPA and industry to work together. So far, the EPA has been the bully boy putting demands on business that are unreasonable. As a result jobs are lost, goods and services cost the consumer more and America loses out to foreign countries that care not at all about the environment. Perry has realized that in Texas the environment and industry are a partnership.
Posted by: TomR, armed in Texas at October 20, 2011 08:45 PM
Tom, that is a great way like you said.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 21, 2011 12:23 AM
TomR may be right but an open hunting season on EPA employees would be soooo much more satisfying.
Posted by: Avitar at October 23, 2011 03:25 AM
