Kay Bailey Hutchison will have trouble challenging Rick Perry for the Texas governorship.
By Stephen Moore The Wall Street Journal
One of the most closely watched political races of the year should be the Republican primary for the governors office in Texas pitting incumbent Rick Perry versus Texas U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. As one lifelong political operative in the state tells me: Kay Bailey cant get to the right of Perry on a single issue. Thats a big problem in a GOP primary in the reddest of states. Both have spent millions already with potentially tens of millions on tap but the heavy betting is on Mr. Perry at this point as the March primary approaches.
On Wednesday Mr. Perry moved to seal the deal with conservatives by calling for a new constitutional set of protections for taxpayers. Call it a Texas-style taxpayer bill or rights.
Mr. Perry wants the states constitution amended to require a two-thirds vote requirement of the legislature for any tax hikes. He also wants state spending capped at the rate of annual population growth plus inflation. States like Arizona Colorado and Nevada have already adopted such taxpayer protections and the limitations have worked well to repel new spending according to economist and state budget expert Barry Poulson of the University of Colorado.
Mr. Perry sounded as if his audience for these reforms was just as much the White House and the U.S. Congress as citizens of his home state.
As the tax borrow and spend mindset holds sway over Washington D.C. Mr. Perry said it is more important than ever that we take steps to protect our citizens from the excesses of unrestrained government at every level.
Mr. Perrys slate of populist taxpayer protections may well doom Ms. Hutchisons chances.
Ms. Hutchison started with a 25-point lead a year ago but Mr. Perry was leading by more than ten points in polls at year-end. In November 57 of Texas voters told Rasmussen they preferred that Ms. Hutchison remain in the senate.
Im hearing that Senator John Cornyn who runs the Republican Senatorial Committee also is trying to persuade Ms. Hutchison to drop out of the governors race run for reelection to the senate. That would stop the costly internecine warfare in the state and likely end any chance of Democrats picking up her Senate seat.
Ms. Hutchison has not ruled out seeking another Senate term.
Mr. Perry is rated one of the top conservative governors in America winning kudos for turning down federal stimulus funds on grounds that the temporary money would permanently ratchet up state spending. Peggy Venable Texas director of Americans for Prosperity says: Thank goodness we didnt take those funds. We would have had to raise our unemployment insurance tax on employers if the governor had taken stimulus money.
Texas is now ground zero for the revolt against Obamanomics and its clear that Mr. Perrys stand for states rights against Mr. Obamas constant threats has made him a state hero.
Why would Texas vote out one of the best governors in America? asks Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform.
Its a good bet they wont.
