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Texas Gov. Rick Perry Criticizes Strayhorn for Not Doing Her Job

Texas Gov. Rick Perry blasted “independant” challenger Carole Keeton Strayhorn — who is currently the state’s comptroller — for not doing her job.

According to Gov. Perry, Strayhorn has failed to collect $3 billion owed by “deadbeats and tax cheats”, saying that if she did, “there’d be more money for public education”.

Perhaps if Ms. Strayhorn wasn’t so busy campaigning for Gov. Perry’s job, she’d have time to do the job we’re currently paying her to do.

Strayhorn doesn’t refute the fact that she’s not doing her job. Instead, she disputes the amount that remains uncollected (Strayhorn claims it’s only $2.6 billion).

You know what, Carole? I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt on the actual number — since you’re the one who controls the books. But $2.6 billion dollars would go a long way towards our state’s education budget, wouldn’t it?

If you want to campaign, do it on the weekends or after 5:00 p.m. — but not on my time and on my dime. Now, get back to work.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Thursday, February 9th, 2006 | Trackback |

9 Responses to “Texas Gov. Rick Perry Criticizes Strayhorn for Not Doing Her Job”

I doubt if our lives as Texans would differ in the slightest bit should Carol replace Rick as governer.

But I just can’t stand the way Carol screechs at me on TV, and I’m very afraid that she will trample innocent people as she rushes towards the nearest TV camera.

Left by Jim Howard on February 9th, 2006 at 11:41 am

Watch Perry in the future. Not the right time to elect another President from Texas (just too soon..wouldn’t work) but ya know what, this is a good guy. He has heart and compassion, he has guts and smarts. He needs another grey hair or two, but I doubt very much his career is going to end with governor of Texas.

Left by dianne on February 9th, 2006 at 11:45 am

President Perry????

Sorry, I had to go throw up.

Left by michael on February 9th, 2006 at 12:04 pm

Ok Ok so I’m from Kansas…but Michael, from where I sit, he looks pretty good (and I mean that literally..lol) Seriously, what the heck is so wrong with this guy?

Left by dianne on February 9th, 2006 at 12:10 pm

Terribly Happy CD update: adventures in postal lines–There were two different guys in line who looked like they were trying to mail their house via the U.S… via Terribly Happy | Bloggystyle at 00:51 PM» Texas Gov. Rick Perry Criticizes Strayhorn for Not Doing Her Job–If Strayhorn wasn’t busy campaigning for Perry’s job, she’d have time to do the job we’re currently paying her for. via UrbanGrounds at 00:32 PM » MUSIC: Built to Spill returns May 20th

Left by Austin Bloggers Metablog on February 10th, 2006 at 8:10 am

This uses the same logic as the post above: GOP criticizes Democrat. Where’s the news? How about a little background information- say, the amount of uncollected taxes before she took office or a comparison with other states. Something.

Left by Preston on February 10th, 2006 at 2:04 pm

—-Seriously, what the heck is so wrong with this guy?—-

He’s the rooster on top of the windvane (and I mean that seriously). If you’ve got a big pile of $$$, he’s your best friend. He blow dried that hair too often and fried his brain. He called two special sessions to “fix” education in Texas and managed only to give big handouts to his corporate cronies. He’s six feet of empty suit.

Left by michael on February 13th, 2006 at 4:49 pm

Perry doesn’t even know state government.
It’s the Attorney General’s job to go after the uncollected taxes.
The Fort-Worth paper is the only one that reported that Strayhorn per the AG has done her job well.

Left by Paul C. on February 15th, 2006 at 8:46 pm

Paul — thanks for the clarification. But I think there’s more to it than that.

On the Web site for the State Comptroller, under the list of primary duties of the Comptroller, number one is: Collects money due to the state.

Her site doesn’t say “collect money due to the state until it becomes delinquent, and then it’s off my plate for good” — it says “Collect money due to the state”.

Gov. Perry said that there is about $3 billion owed to Texas…or put another way, money still due to Texas.

I found the link that you referenced to the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, and it claims just what you said it does.

But does turning over those debts to the AG absolve her completely from her primary job, which is to collect money due to the state of Texas?

***
The Office of Comptroller of Public Accounts was initially created by the General Council of the Provisional Government of Texas on December 29, 1835.

It clearly states that the Comptroller’s job is “to examine and settle the accounts of all persons indebted to the State, to certify the amount or balance to the Treasurer, and to direct the collection of all monies due the State”

I read this to say that even though she has “directed the collection of all monies due” to the AG’s office, she is still the person ultimately responsible for “settling” that owed debt.

I think that Gov. Perry was not misleading in his charges. Money is still owed to Texas. And it’s still Strayhorn’s responsibilty to settle those debts. Unless “writing them off” is the same thing as settling them. If that’s the case, I have a few debts I’d like to speak to Carole about.

But at the same time, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal either. Money is owed. Money that most likely can’t and never will be collected. I’d rather her devote more time to collecting “collectable” taxes than pursuing money that will never be there. But with that said, I think it’s also dishonest for her to say she’s not the “check stops here” position of final responsibilty, because clearly she is.

Left by Robbie on February 15th, 2006 at 10:46 pm

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