Governor Rick Perry

Latinos May Need More Than a 'Miracle' to Prosper in Texas

Veronica Zaragovia, KUT News — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:11:18 +0000

President Obama brought a message of economic recovery when he visited Austin yesterday, the first stop in his “Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour.” Latinos in the U.S., however, are trailing behind the national average in unemployment. So how are they’re doing when it comes to finding work in the home of the “Texas miracle?"

Perry Attends DA's Funeral With Eye on Border Security

Trey Shaar, KUT News — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:38:35 +0000

Gov. Rick Perry attended today’s memorial service for a North Texas district attorney and his wife who were shot to death in their home over the weekend.

The death of District Attorney Michael McClelland comes about two months after the killing of another prosecutor in that county.

In an interview today with Fox News Channel, Perry tied the killings to border security.

Policy Group Supports Perry on Medicaid Expansion

Trey Shaar, KUT News — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:33:44 +0000

A report released today by the Texas Public Policy Foundation criticizes the state’s Medicaid program, calling its access to healthcare providers “inadequate” and its health outcomes “poor.”

Gov. Rick Perry has refused to accept federal money to expand access to Medicaid, citing much the same reasons.

Perry says he would prefer a “block grant” of the federal money, allowing Texas to decide how best to spend it.

Texas Needs More Career and Technical Progams, Says Perry

Marissa Barnett — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:59:56 +0000

Governor Rick Perry called for more career and technical programs—in addition to expanding charter schools and implementing a tax-credit scholarship program—during his address to the State Board of Education and its eight newly elected members this morning.

Texans React to Gun Control Proposal

Mark Dewey — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:08:11 +0000

President Obama’s call today for a series of stronger gun control measures met with immediate opposition here in Texas.

Gov. Rick Perry issued a statement calling for prayer and said that “guns require a finger to pull the trigger.”

Gun advocates, like Bill Titus of the Texas Concealed Handgun Association, criticized the efficacy and intent of President Obama’s proposals.

Perry: Let School Districts Decide on 15 Percent Rule

Morgan Smith, Texas Tribune — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:12:57 +0000

Gov. Rick Perry is expressing his support for letting school districts themselves choose whether to implement a rule that requires new state assessments to count for 15 percent of high school students' final grades.

In a written statement Thursday — the first time the governor has publicly weighed in on the issue — Perry praised legislation filed by state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, that would leave the decision up to local school districts. He also asked Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams to defer the state's rollout of the rule until the next school year.