Here's a wrap-up of Rick Perry's often wrong-headed attempts to aggrandize power in the traditionally weak Texas governor's office.
Since he became governor in 2000, Perry has issued 65 executive orders. Most are the usual gubernatorial mix of disaster declarations, study task forces and flags flying at half-staff to honor the dead.However, more than either of the previous two governors, Perry also has used executive orders to expand the power of his office, and his executive order mandating vaccinations against the human papillomavirus is not the first that over-stepped the Legislature.
At least four times, Perry has issued executive orders for state agencies to adopt policies that failed to pass in the Legislature....
[State Sen. Rodney] Ellis said Perry has been able to take a certain amount of additional power without asking because Republicans control the Legislature, hold every statewide office and Perry is the "titular" head of the Texas Republican Party.
"He hasn't had to work with the Legislature in the way that Ann Richards had to or even George W. Bush had to," Ellis said. "He probably figured he could just keep playing on that field and nobody would ask any questions."
Ellis said Perry's six years in office and his past successes created an aura of power, despite having won re-election with just 39 percent of the vote.
"In the case of Gov. Perry, perhaps he has some delusions of grandeur," Ellis said. "Regardless of the percentage you won by, you've been there so long you begin to get comfortable and think that you can just steamroll your way through the process."
We're still waiting for someone with standing to file a legal challenge to Perry's foolish 65-percent executive order that will damage our school districts in the name of "reform."
Meanwhile, former lieutenant governor Bill Hobby offers both a Texas hisory lesson about the fate of over-reaching governors and a simple conclusion.
Gov. Perry is pretty confused about the powers of the governor and the powers of the Legislature. In power struggles between the governor and the Legislature, the Legislature wins.Posted by Alan at February 25, 2007 10:31 AM