Rick Perry
Historical Details
Position on Issues
For| Read My Position
"There are a lot of good ideas here on cutting back on the Department of Education. I happen to believe we ought to be promoting school choice all across this country. The voucher system, charter schools all across this country."
Against| Read My Position
Other, 2011
"I'm not for the DREAM Act that they are talking about in Washington D.C. that is amnesty." (CNN-Tea Party Republican Debate, Sept. 12, 2011)
Against| Read My Position
"Common Core has got to be stopped in this country."
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"When you get a balanced budget amendment in Washington, D.C., you will finally start getting the snake's head cut off. I mean, the fact of the matter is, until you get a balanced budget amendment--I don't care whether Democrats or Republicans are going to be in control in Washington, D.C.--balanced budget amendment, and then the American people can go to sleep at night with a little more comfort that they're going to wake up and not be broke in the morning."
Against| Read My Position
Other, 2011
"The science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put Americans' economy in jeopardy based on scientific theory that's not settled yet, to me, is just nonsense. I mean, Galileo got outvoted for a spell. But asking us to cut back in areas that would have monstrous economic impact on this country is not good economics and I will suggest to you is not necessarily good science. Find out what the science truly is before you start putting the American economy in jeopardy." (GOP debate in Simi Valley CA at the Reagan Library, Sept. 7, 2011)
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Personally opposes marijuana legalization, but believes states have the right to choose. "I defend the right of Colorado to be wrong on that issue."
Against| Read My Position
"95% of all the jobs that are created in my home state were above the minimum wage. So the idea that you should be focused on the minimum wage when in fact you ought to be focused on policies that create this environment where jobs can be created. You know, this discussion about minimum wage, when there are no jobs available. Most of us didn't start in the corner office, I mean, you worked your way up. I think it's an easy political line to pitch out to say, 'I'm for raising the minimum wage,' when we're looking past that in Texas from the standpoint of how do we create the maximum wage available? How do we put more people into the workforce? And that's where the focus should be."
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Signed a letter to Pres. Obama supporting the Keystone XL Pipeline
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Signed a bill to increase abortion facility requirements and prohibit abortion after 20 weeks
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Vetoed a bill to establish state-level equal pay laws
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Signed a bill requiring drug testing for unemployment benefits
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Other, 2010
Supports the death penalty for aggravated rape ("Fed Up!" by Gov. Rick Perry, 2010)
Against| Read My Position
"I understand gathering information [of] people who have a track record of doing harm to the United States of America, and people like them. But to just broadly gather Internet records and phone records of all the citizens of this country, I mean, I gotta think if you're a Verizon customer, you're a little nervous."
Other| Read My Position
Signed a bill to create a "school marshal" position, a trained and armed school employee
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Vetoed a bill to limit sugar and fat content of beverages sold in schools
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Other, 2011
"Republicans have identified that Social Security is wrong. [...] So, are we going to raise the age at which people become eligible for it? Are we going to allow the young Americans out there that are working to have private sector account-type options? All of those are appropriate conversations to have." (Fox News 'Hannity' interview, Sept. 22, 2011)
For| Read My Position
Other, 2011
"Speaking of overreach, did I mention ObamaCare?
"I sincerely hope our principled senators, regardless of party, will toss out that trainwreck of a plan or its mandates will cripple our healthcare system and its price tag will bust our budget.
"Our Medicaid population and accompanying financial burden are growing as we speak and, in 2014, ObamaCare will cause them to explode. Right now, this Washington-centric approach to healthcare has a whole lot of states on a collision course with bankruptcy.
"Instead of oppressive mandates, we need solutions like block grants and the freedom to improve health care delivery with innovation, flexibility and local input. You and I believe, and at least two federal courts have confirmed that it's unconstitutional and wrong for the government to force someone to buy health insurance." (Speech at Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 11, 2011)
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Signed a bill to require voter ID at polling places
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"I'm a right to work guy. I come from a right to work state, and I will tell you, if N.H. wants to become the magnet for job creation in the Northeast, you pass that right to work legislation."
Other| Read My Position
Other, 2011
"This president has proven for once and for all that government spending will not create one job. Keynesian policy and Keynesian theory is now done. We'll never have to have that experiment on America again." (GOP debate in Simi Valley CA at the Reagan Library, Sept. 7, 2011)
Other| Read My Position
Opposes Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran
(Source: Fox News, "Republican presidential primary debate")
