Governor Perry has stated that he takes a Madisonian view on the constitution. He asserts that the powers of the federal government are listed in the constitution and that the federal government is limited to those powers. He is a strong supporter of 10th amendment adherence.
During his tenure as governor, Perry has advocated for giving the President the line item veto. He called it an important taxpayer protection, and a critical tool in eliminating wasteful spending. He cited the large number of earmarks in noting that the need for the line-item veto was clear and stated that every government expenditure should be capable of standing on it's own.
In May of 2009, Governor Perry signed HB 670. That legislation provided a qualified privilege to prevent journalists who receive a subpoena from having to testify or produce documents gathered while acting as a journalist, and allowed journalists to protect their sources in certain cases.
In November of 2010, excerpts from a book written by Governor Perry stated that he felt that the 16th amendment authorizing the income tax and the 17th amendment allowing US Senators to be popularly elected were mistakes made in populist rages.
Line Item Veto
In June of 2006, Governor Perry released a press statement noting his support for giving the President of the United States a line item veto.
Gov. Perry Urges Congress to Grant the President Line Item Veto Authority Wednesday, June 21, 2006 • Press Release
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today joined several governors and advocates of spending restraint in urging Congress to grant the President of the United States line-item veto authority.
“Line item veto authority is an important taxpayer protection, whether you are talking about the federal budget or state budget,” Perry said. “The line-item veto is a critical tool in eliminating wasteful spending – especially when an entire spending bill doesn’t merit a full veto.”
Perry, who has vetoed nearly six times as much proposed spending as the last four governors combined, decried how special interest, pork barrel projects get added to appropriations bills, leaving President Bush only a take-it-or-leave-it option.
“If Congress wants to get serious about spending restraint, and not just talk the talk, they will allow President Bush to carve out wasteful spending from bills without having to veto wise expenditures,” Perry said. “The need for this presidential authority is clear: Congress added 10,000 earmarks to appropriations bills in 2006 – which left taxpayers with a $29 billion tab – and federal spending on pork projects has increased nine-fold in the past 15 years.”
“Every government expenditure should stand on its merits and be justified on its own,” Perry said. “Line-item veto authority to cut federal spending is long overdue, and will go a long way toward reining in out-of-control federal spending.”
House Bill 670
In May of 2009, Governor Perry issued a press statement noting his support for House Bill 670. The bill provides a qualified privilege to prevent journalists who receive a subpoena from having to testify or produce documents gathered while acting as a journalist.
Gov. Perry Signs House Bill 670 Wednesday, May 13, 2009 • Press Release
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has signed House Bill 670, which provides a qualified privilege to prevent journalists who receive a subpoena from having to testify or produce documents gathered while acting as a journalist. The bill also allows journalists to protect their sources in certain cases.
“This was a complex issue that required thoughtful consideration, and I am pleased that lawmakers were able to strike a balance between protecting the rights of the people and the press,” Gov. Perry said. “I want to thank Rep. Martinez Fischer and Sen. Ellis for their work on this bill.”
Exceptions to the bill include instances when the requestors have proven that they have exhausted all reasonable efforts to get the information elsewhere, the subpoena does not ask for more than is necessary, and the interest in obtaining the information outweighs the public’s interest in protecting journalists.
Journalists are also required to identify a confidential source in a criminal case if the source was observed by the journalist committing a felony, confessed to the journalist that he committed a felony, or if there is probable cause to believe that the confidential source committed a felony and the prosecutor has exhausted all efforts to obtain the source’s identity. The journalist could also be made to reveal the source if disclosure is necessary to prevent certain death or substantial bodily harm.
16th and 17th Amendments
In November of 2010, excerpts from a book being written by Governor Perry were released. The excerpts showed that Governor Perry states that the 16th amendment and 17th amendment were mistakes made during waves of populist rage. The 16th amendment authorizes the income tax and the 17th amendment allows US Senators to be elected by the public instead of selected by state assemblies.
The American people mistakenly empowered the federal government during a fit of populist rage in the early twentieth century by giving it an unlimited source of income (the Sixteenth Amendment) and by changing the way senators are elected (the Seventeenth Amendment).
CPAC Speech
During his 2011 speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee, Governor Perry states that he is in favor of the Madisonian view of the powers of the federal government in relation to the powers of the states.
I am reminded of James Madison's perspective from Federalist number 45. He said that the powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal government are few, and they are defined. Those which are to remain in the state government are numerous and indefinite. I like that. I am a Madisonian.
