Perry's Texas Not So Miraculous

Here in Texas, news organizations like the Texas Tribune can barely hold their breath about how much they want to see Rick Perry run. Too many in Texas have seen Perry win – forgetting all the many mistakes his campaigns have made and the out-and-out lies concerning the state of Texas' economy.

When Perry ran for Governor last year, instead of being honest with Texans about the state of our economy, he supressed the Comptroller's report until after the election, campaigning on a everythings-great-here-and-look-how-I've-balanced-the-budget platform. Only after the report came out did we find out that we're $29 billion (that's billion with a B) in the hole, which resulted in across the board  state agency budget cuts in the just-finished legislative session.

Thousands of Texans have lost their jobs because of Perry's bungling of the state finances. Of course, he wasn't alone. The lawmakers in this state are, for the most part, either dumb as rocks or only interested in getting reelected. Given the current budget crisis, what did Governor Perry promote as the first piece of legislation that absolutely had to be passed? Any sane person would immediately say, "The House and Senate Budget Bills, of course." However, Perry's answer was a bill to require picture voter IDs for everyone who wants to vote in Texas. Forget the fact that we already have voter registration cards and driver's licenses. We absolutely need these voter IDs!

And lets not forget our legislators who passed a bill that we really couldn't live without. They tried to pass a bill that made it legal for "special" people to carry firearms anywhere they wanted. And, just who are those "special" people, you might ask. Well, our legislators, or course! They wanted to make it legal for legislators to carry handguns in the legislative chambers, and anywhere licensed peace officers can carry. They also tried to pass bills making it legal:

1. For school board members and school superintendents who have a CHL (Concealed Handgun License) to carry on the "premises" of a school
2. For county commissioners to carry at meetings of county commissioner's court
3. For members of the legislature and statewide elected officials with CHL's to carry concealed handguns in bars, churches, hospitals/nursing homes, at school and professional sporting events and at governmental meetings

Then, they tried to pass laws making firearms manufactured in Texas exempt from federal regulations and laws, and to exempt firearms and ammunition from state sales tax.

All is not lost, however, because the did pass laws:

1. Making is legal to carry a handgun on watercraft.
2. Making is legal for employees to store firearms in a locked employee-owned vehicle in the employers' parking lots.

Now come on people! We all know that your chance of being attacked by pirates on Texas lakes and rivers is much greater than anyone can imagine. And, just think of all the money you'll save on gasoline by not having to drive home to get your gun when you get angry at a fellow employee or your boss.

You gotta love Texas politics!!

Well, Rachel Maddow did an amazing job destroyong the biggest bubble Perry loves to tout – his economic record. Here it is below:

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