Rick Perry Never Saw A Bad Idea He Didn’t Love

by Sandi Behrns

As you are probably aware, Grover Norquist’s Americans For Tax Reform has, for many years now, presented all Republican candidates for national office with a pledge to sign. That pledge promises to oppose any and all tax increases no-matter-what, even if that “increase” is really just the closing of a loophole. The idea isn’t just about greedy people keeping more money; it’s about starving government of the revenue it needs to do its job — in theory, allowing Grover to drag the Federal government into the bathroom and “drown it in the bathtub.”

As this national-level pledge has been such a resounding success (if you’re a billionaire),  Texas Governor Rick Perry figures it might just work wonders for Texas. Citizens For Tax Justice reports:

Borrowing a page from anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist’s playbook, Perry said on Monday, “Each and every member of the Legislature or anyone aspiring to become a member of the Legislature should sign on.” And right on the Governor’s website, individuals and lawmakers can sign on to the Compact: Yes, I stand with Governor Perry and I support his Texas Budget Compact. I want my state representatives in the Texas Legislature to sign on to Governor Perry’s Texas Budget Compact.

I guess we’ll just ignore the fact that Texas already has some of the lowest tax rates in the country or that the “Texas Miracle” is a myth. We’ll also pretend not to notice the $27 billion budget shortfall they face. Perhaps following the humiliation of the GOP presidential primary, this passes as a ‘big idea’ for Perry.  One wonders, though: if the Federal and State governments are drowning in that tub – what will we be left with?

By: Sandi Behrns

Sandi Behrns is a noted policy nerd, new media & web developer, and consultant to progressive organizations and campaigns. She is a senior contributor to Liberaland, and the Executive Editor of Progressive Congress News.