August 30, 2011 9:54 AM

Rick Perry says no stimulus when he's president

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Campaign 2012
DES MOINES, IA - AUGUST 15: Republican presidential candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks to visitors at the Iowa State Fair August 15, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa. The visit is part of Perry's first campaign trip to Iowa since declaring he would seek the Republican nomination for president on August 13. (Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

At a campaign stop in Tulsa on Monday, Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry said that as president, he wouldn't use government spending to spur economic growth or job creation.

"No. 1 is don't spend all the money, you can figure out what that means," Perry said when asked how he would create jobs, the Associated Press reports. "You won't have stimulus programs under a Perry presidency. You won't spend all the money."

Perry gave few details about what he would do, according to the AP, but said he would ensure taxes would be "light on job creators" and that he would implement tort reform to make the legal system more predictable.

Perry was at the Tulsa Press Club to receive Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe's endorsement. The Texas governor also attended a $2,500-a-plate fundraising lunch in Tulsa.

Since entering the GOP presidential race just two weeks ago, Perry has surged to the top of the field, polls show.

While his jobs agenda may have been light on details in Tulsa, one of the most compelling arguments for Perry's candidacy is the job growth that's taken place in Texas under his watch. With Perry as governor, the state has added hundreds of thousands more jobs than any other state by far.

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Some job creators credit Perry's policies for making the state friendly to employers, CBS Evening News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reported, but the state also benefitted when high oil prices boosted energy-related jobs. Furthermore, the Texas unemployment rate still sits at 8.2 percent -- just a point below the national rate.

President Obama has been under pressure to do something to lower the 9-point unemployment rate and will lay out a plan for job creation in a speech next week. He's expected to call for some spending in areas like infrastructure development, and he's also expected to endorse new tax incentives to spur hiring.

While Perry says keeping taxes light should help spur economic growth, his promise to never raise taxes created some problems this year when his state faced a $27 billion budget shortfall. The governor had to make deep cuts in health care and education, laying off about 49,000 teachers.

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Rick Perry on the campaign trail

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Add a Comment See all 384 Comments
by lupigon September 1, 2011 2:12 PM EDT
If this nut thinks he is going to be president he is dreaming.
People are starting to realize what a fake he is. Open your eyes people research the mess he has done in Texas.
Reply to this comment
by forsanity1 September 1, 2011 1:11 PM EDT
Rick Perry is running for king of America. He hasn't yet figured out this whole Congress thing.

We might need to bring the Supreme Court part up as well.

Mr. Perry is just another person who promises anything, but when the delivery time comes... whoops something else arrives.

This is true of all politicians. We need to ask these GOP contenders how they will govern with a Congress that opposes them to the degree the Senate Republicans have during all of Obama's term and the GOP led House has continued to the extreme this year.

Anyone who thinks the GOP will have both Houses of Congress (with 60 seats in the Senate) in 2013 is not paying attention to current events.

It would be great to see candidates face the realities of the POTUS job.
Reply to this comment
by CWOODS8178 September 1, 2011 10:55 AM EDT
PERRY SHOULD RETURN ALL THE STIMULUS MONEY HE TOOK FOR TEXAS .TEXAS IS A MEMBER OF THE U.S.A. SO OBAMA SHOULD GET CREDIT FOR THE JOBS CREATED INSTEAD OF PERRY.PERRY HAS FORGOTTEN THE ALAMO
Reply to this comment
by forsanity1 September 1, 2011 1:03 PM EDT
You make a valid point.

So, all the jobs lost state by state should be blamed on Governors?

Rick Perry spent the tax money given to him under the ARRA (stimulus bill) ... but he wouldn't spend to help another state?

Wow, who wants a president that only cares about ONE state? Not me.
by dkb218 September 1, 2011 3:32 PM EDT
@forsanity1: Yeah... What?
by dproadie September 1, 2011 12:33 AM EDT
Lets not forget that those jobs are government jobs. If President Obama had any backbone he would by executive order close the military bases in Texas because it is a hostile environment for federal workers. The state led by the Governor would like to succeed from the country. Let's see how Texas does when the number one employer leaves.
Reply to this comment
by JV1970 September 2, 2011 10:55 AM EDT
You are another one who speaks before engaging your brain! Do you realize what an idiotic statement you've made? Have you even thought about what Texas contributes to the country and how badly we need the military bases in Texas?
by rickstas August 31, 2011 6:14 PM EDT
Good thing "Rick the Dick" will never be president.
Reply to this comment
by hhandyman August 31, 2011 12:18 PM EDT
Better yet NO Republican elected to office in 2012 and end the T party revolution with the whimper it deserves Restore Democratic order to Government Return to Moderates leadership skip the Extreme views of all parties and clean house of 98% incumbents.
Reply to this comment
by GR8PYR August 31, 2011 12:12 PM EDT
He is one very, very, very scarey man. Should he be elected (horror, shudder, scream!) we can all bend over and kiss ourselves goodbye.
Reply to this comment
by troopf4 August 31, 2011 1:14 PM EDT
Obama and his band of thugs are the scarey ones - if you still support Obama you are one of the idiots he talked about, to quote Obama: Dem. voters are idiots and of course Rahm Emanuel called all of you retards...
by dkb218 September 1, 2011 3:34 PM EDT
troopf4: Please paste link to prove your comments. If not Mrs. Bachmann, please shut up! Enough of your dirty lying mouth!
by VicenteRodolfo August 31, 2011 12:09 PM EDT
We do not want Perry to be president and he should not even make these kinds of comments, as he will not get the opportunity to exercise his pronouncements. Vote Obama for president!
Reply to this comment
by sandy e.2710 August 31, 2011 10:43 AM EDT
Presidents , nor lawmakers, should not automatically rule out any option, because there's no way to predict future events.Although somewhat lower than the national average, Governor Perry still has a high unemployment rate in his state, and most of the jobs created are low-paying.It's also nothing to brag about when your promise to NEVER raise taxes leads to a budget shortfall, and the children of your state , and those in need of health care are sacrificed.
Reply to this comment
by ZadocPaet1 August 31, 2011 1:40 AM EDT
I think Obama is excited that he might be running against Perry and his intellect.

POLL: Is Rick Perry dumb?
Vote: http://www.wepolls.com/p/2243001
Reply to this comment
by Zann-Zel August 31, 2011 9:20 AM EDT
LOL!
83% - Dumber than Rocks!
9% Average for a Politician
8% No, Sharp as a Catfish
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