Rick Perry presidential campaign, 2016/Federal assistance programs
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 Rick Perry |
Governor of Texas (2000-2015) Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1998-2000) Texas Agriculture Commissioner (1990 - 1998) Texas House of Representatives (1984-1990) |
 Republican candidate: |
2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
This page was current as of the 2016 election.
| Perry encourages the Texas state legislature to enact drug screenings for benefits recipients. |
- According to a 2015 study by the Heartland Institute, the number of Texans receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits declined from 300,000 to less than 80,000 during Rick Perry's tenure as governor of Texas.[2]
- Perry refused to expand Medicaid benefits under Obamacare in 2012, foregoing an estimated $100 billion in federal support over the following decade. In 2013, however, the Perry administration entered negotiations to receive $100 million in Medicaid funding for the elderly and disabled.[3][4][5]
- During his 2012 presidential run, Rick Perry wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal where he described his “Cut, Balance and Grow” plan. The plan proposed protecting the Social Security fund from being used for other expenditures and allowing younger people to create personal retirement accounts if they choose. Perry would also end the tax on Social Security benefits that affects 17 million current beneficiaries.[6]
- In an August 2011 interview with The Daily Beast, Perry said that entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare should be state programs free of requirements from the federal government. Perry referenced the 10th Amendment as his justification, stating, "The Constitution as it was written, and the 10th Amendment that clearly says the states are where these decisions should be made. Moving back in that direction will create substantially more competition."[7]
- In a conversation with former Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer on CNN in November 2010, Perry recommended allowing states to opt out of social security. Perry explained, "In 1981, Matagorda, Brazoria and Galveston counties, all opted out of the Social Security program for their employees. Today their program is very, very well funded and there is no question about whether it's going to be funded in the out years, it's there. That's an option out there." After Spitzer asked if that meant letting individual people opt out, Perry clarified, "Let the states decide if that’s what’s best for their citizens."[8]
- In 2012, Perry endorsed a bill in the Texas Legislature that would have required drug screening for certain welfare applicants, strengthened work requirements and prohibited welfare benefits from being used to purchase products including alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets and adult entertainment.[9]
Recent news
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ CNN, "Rick Perry launches comeback White House bid," June 4, 2015
- ↑ The Heartland Institute, "Texas’ Welfare Rolls Shrink, Rick Perry Deserves Praise," March 31, 2015
- ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Perry: Texas will opt out of Medicaid expansion, insurance exchange," July 9, 2012]
- ↑ CNBC, "Don't mess with Medicaid expansion? A lesson from Texas," May 29, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Obamacare critic Rick Perry seeks cash from law," August 20, 2013
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, “My Tax and Spending Reform Plan," October 25, 2011
- ↑ The Daily Beast, “Rick Perry on the Record," August 12, 2011
- ↑ CNN, "Transcript: Parker/Spitzer, Interview with Rick Perry," November 4, 2010
- ↑ KVUE, “Perry, Dewhurst speak about welfare reform bill," November 13, 2012
