Hutchison Pledges To End Political Coercion

DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE TOUR, DAY 4:
Hutchison Pledges To End Political Coercion

Says We Must Declare Our Independence From A “Shake-down” Governor

San Antonio, TX – With the March 2nd Republican gubernatorial primary falling on Texas Independence Day, Kay Bailey Hutchison today continued her campaign asking Texans to declare their independence from a governor who refuses to clean-up Austin and put the state first.

Hutchison has laid out a detailed government reform proposal aimed at ending the cronyism in Austin. In a Hutchison administration, political appointees will be prohibited from soliciting campaign contributions from the people they regulate, even in their personal capacity. Additionally, it will be the policy of the Governor’s Office that political appointees will be prohibited from lobbying political action committees or associations for endorsements when that association’s industry falls within the appointee’s scope of responsibility.

“When I am elected governor, we will put an end to the cronyism that has creeped into Austin and the Perry Administration. We can do better. I want to declare our independence on March 2nd from Rick Perry's heavy-handedness. People should not be bullied into supporting elected officials out of fear of retribution to their business. Governor Perry decried this very thing when he ran in 1990. He said it was ‘reprehensible’, but his appointees are doing it now. Government should be open and responsive to all citizens and that is how my administration will operate. I will serve Texans, not Austin insiders,” said Hutchison.

The current policies of the Perry Administration allow the potential for cronyism and were highlighted when a Perry appointee solicited the very people he regulates for political contributions in a fundraising letter. The appointee signed the solicitation letter in his personal capacity and it was sent to businesses which the solicitor regulates.

“Texas deserves a governor who will put our interests at heart, your interests first, and not the special interests of Austin,” said Hutchison.