FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 17, 2010

Part-Time Perry ignores $18 billion budget hole

Incumbent’s schedule shows an average seven hour work week

AUSTIN — Today Bill White hammered Rick Perry for failing to address the state’s $18 billion budget crisis. White pledged that as governor, he’ll get taxpayers their money’s worth.

Perry’s state schedules released today show that from January to May 2010 Perry did not work on the budget crisis, or, it appears, much of anything. Schedules are available at www.billwhitefortexas.com/parttimeperry.

"As governor, I’ll make sure Texas taxpayers get their money’s worth – a full work week from the CEO," said White. "It’s no wonder the state was unprepared for an $18 billion shortfall, when the governor puts in so few hours."

"Like most career politicians, Rick Perry has lost sight of who he answers to," said Katy Bacon, campaign spokesperson. "Bill White is a successful businessman who never would’ve allowed Texas to plummet into this ditch of debt. Leadership starts at the top, but Perry’s sticking his head in the sand on the budget crisis because it’s inconvenient for his political career."

In 21 weeks of work, Perry enjoyed 16 long weekends and worked an average of seven hours per week. Press conferences, photo ops, lunches and conferences accounted for 60% of his "work" time.

• 38 of 106 – business days with no state work scheduled
• 7 hours – average work week scheduled
• 29 – number of photo ops
• 0 – meetings on $18 billion budget hole

No meetings or phone calls were scheduled regarding the $18 billion budget crisis, though Perry did have a meeting with Newt Gingrich and attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington D.C.

Contact:
Katy Bacon
press@billwhitefortexas.com
713.613.5326

You won’t believe this.

While President Obama was securing funds from BP to pay for the damage their oil spill is wrecking on families in the Gulf, Republicans apologized… to BP.

Yes, Texas Congressman Joe Barton actually apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward and called it "a tragedy in the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown."

That’s right – Republicans think the "tragedy" is that BP will have to pay victims of their disaster.

This isn’t from some backbencher. Republicans want to put Congressman Barton in charge of the entire Energy and Commerce committee!

With our June 30th FEC reporting deadline fast approaching, now is the time to send an overwhelming message that grassroots Democrats will not stand by as Republicans shamelessly shill for their Big Oil backers. The national media will use our grassroots totals to judge our will to fight against the Grand Oil Party.

Contribute $50, $75 or more today to show that Americans stand behind Democrats demanding full accountability for BP. Your gift will be matched so it has double the impact.

Barton’s not alone. Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann called it a "redistribution of wealth fund." The Republican Study Committee called it "Chicago-style politics." Even now, Republican Leader John Boehner refuses to sign on to House Democrats’ legislation lifting the liability cap on BP.

There is simply no excuse for refusing to hold BP accountable for the environmental disaster in the Gulf – and it is an environmental disaster, despite what Alaska Congressman Don Young claims.
It’s clear that Republicans are counting on their corporate special interests like Big Oil to fuel them to what they hope will be a record braking fundraising quarter — but this is a disgusting new low. Don’t let Big Oil’s backers claim the momentum.

Contribute today to show that Americans stand behind Democrats demanding full accountability for BP. Your gift will be matched so it has double the impact.

Thank you,

Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director

Between Sharron Angle, Rand Paul and Sarah Palin, I’m tearing out what’s left of my hair. And I don’t have much to spare. At this rate, I’m going to make James Carville look like Mitt Romney. (Say what you want about Mitt; his hair is beautiful.)
Angle wants to privatize Social Security and Medicare, and eliminate the federal Departments of Education and Energy. Paul thinks businesses should have the right to discriminate. And Sarah Palin? Well, she’s out there raisin’ money for ‘em, just a-droppin’ her g’s and pushin’ ‘em further ‘n’ further off that right-wing cliff like they were lemmings instead of mama grizzlies – or whatever her latest mammalian metaphor is.
Now, here’s the scary part. Candidates like Angle and Paul might actually win. Anti-government extremists and corporate special interests are teaming up to generate enthusiasm and big bucks for candidates who would have been on the fringe during the time of "mainstream" Republicans like Ronald Reagan.
If you’re like me, and this thought gives you nightmares, you should know that grassroots Democrats CAN prevent it. The DSCC’s sole mission is to keep Senate seats – and the power that comes with them – away from the fringe. But they need your help now.

Click here to donate $5 or more to the DSCC. The DSCC needs to raise $2,674,955 by June 30 to fight the fringe. Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact!

Historically, midterm elections swing toward the party out of power – just like in 1994. And Republicans have an added benefit this time: The Citizens United decision means corporations are free to spend whatever they wish in support of their chosen candidates.
Tea Party Republicans expect to win big in November and get right to work dismantling the quality public services we need: Medicare, Social Security – and who knows what else?
But what they aren’t counting on is you. Democrats like you (and me) happen to think that providing people a safety net and holding corporations accountable is the right thing to do, and we’re willing to fight for it.

Click here to donate $5 or more to the DSCC. The DSCC needs to raise $2,674,955 by June 30 to fight the fringe. Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact!
These extremist Republicans are worse – much worse – than the awful Republicans of the past. Even one in the Senate is way too many. Let’s work together to keep them out of the Senate. Or I’m going to tear out so much hair, I’m going to have to buy a toupee.  
Sincerely,

Paul Begala

I am convinced the GOP is run by nuts. How do they possibly believe they will gain brownie points by characterizing  the Obama administration’s success in securing at least 20 billion dollars (definitely not enough) for the Gulf Coast liability as a “Shakedown”. I can guarantee that to the “small people”  the 20 billion comes across as standing up for the average American. Usually in an off election year especially in bad economic times, the minority party gains many seats. It is amazing that Republicans colored by an irrational ideology is doing all that is possible to remain the minority party in the foreseeable future.

Republicans on the Hill have calculated that President Obama’s successful demand that BP set up a $20 billion escrow account to pay out claims is ripe for political attack. In the wake of Wednesday’s White House announcement, a host of GOP officials are raising questions about both the process by which the deal was made and the deal itself — going so far as to apologize to BP on America’s behalf.

"I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday," said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) during a hearing on Thursday morning with BP’s CEO Tony Hayward." I think it is a tragedy in the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown — in this case a $20 billion shakedown — with the attorney general of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the American people, participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that’s unprecedented in our nation’s history, which has no legal standing, which I think sets a terrible precedent for our nation’s future."

"I’m only speaking for myself. I’m not speaking for anyone else, but I apologize," Barton added. "I do not want to live in a county where anytime a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong, [it is] subject to some sort of political pressure that, again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown."

Airing criticisms against the notion of forcing BP to fork over $20 billion in liability revenue would seem like a fairly risky proposition considering just how reviled the oil giant is in the current political environment. And Democrats quickly jumped on the congressman’s remark, as well as those from other Republicans, as evidence of a lack of sensitivity for the victims of the spill.

"We know they oil companies have been the GOP’s patrons for years," said DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan, "but given the devastation inflicted on Americans by BP’s recklessness, we’re surprised that Republicans would not want to hold BP accountable to the families and small businesses of the Gulf."

Indeed, despite saying he was speaking on his own accord (and not on behalf of the Republican Party) but Barton was far from alone. The Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative members of the House, was even less diplomatic with a statement describing the Obama administration’s actions as a "Chicago-style political shakedown."

CONTINUED

GOP Outraged By ‘Shakedown’ BP Escrow Account, Apologizes To CEO

As Americans figure out that they were summarily lied to during the healthcare debate those lying will likely pay at the ballot box. I am happy that this awareness seem to be coming earlier rather than later. As such we are likely to keep a progressive government that hopefully can mitigate the failure of the last 30 years and stop our decline into an unsustainable oligarchy.

WASHINGTON — The patient is alive and kicking. A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds public support for President Barack Obama’s new health care law has risen to its highest point.

The nation remains divided, with 45 percent in favor and 42 percent opposed to the president’s signature domestic accomplishment.

Still, the shift in public sentiment was significant. Opposition to the overhaul increased after Congress passed it in March. And last month, supporters were outnumbered 39 percent to 46 percent. But the latest survey found the strongest backing for the health care plan since the AP-GfK poll began asking in September.

"I thought when people began to realize what was in the health care package that they would see it’s a good, solid program and that would dispel some of the misinformation," said Claudia Harris, 72, of Orem, Utah, an English professor at Brigham Young University.

Electrical contractor Kerry Eisley of Moscow, Pa., said he thinks people are starting to get nuts-and-bolts information on how the legislation affects them.

"If we can insure more people across the United States and get the cost of health care down, I think that’s a better thing," said Eisley, 43, a Republican who supports the health care plan, though not a single GOP lawmaker voted for it.

The poll found support increased since May among men (from 36 percent to 46 percent), people in their prime working years (from 35 percent to 49 percent among 30-49 year-olds) and Republicans (from 8 percent to 17 percent.) The uptick among Republicans comes even as party leaders are calling for the law’s repeal.

The changes coincide with a concerted effort by the Obama administration, congressional Democrats and their allies to sell the immediate benefits of the law.

Those include coverage for young adults on their parents’ plan until they turn 26, a $250 rebate check for seniors with high prescription costs, tax credits for some small businesses that cover their employees and federal funding to train more primary care doctors and nurses.

CONTINUED

Health Care Reform: Support For New Law Hits Record High (POLL)