List of worst governors includes Texas and New Mexico

    A political watchdog group named Texas Gov. Rick Perry and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to its list of America's worst governors.

    Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, today released a report that criticizes nearly a dozen governors in the country.

    It says the report offers details about the "unethical and incompetent actions of 11 governors who pride their self-interests over their states'."

    Other governors on the list are Haley Barbour (R-MS), Donald Carcieri (R-RI), Jim Gibbons (R-NV), Bobby Jindal (R-LA), David Paterson (D-NY), Sonny Perdue (R-GA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mark Sanford (R-SC) and Arnold Schwarzenegger(R-CA).

    Perry is seeking reelection to an unprecedented third term in office. He faces Democrat Bill White in the general election in November.

    The CREW report outlined six charges against Perry.

    It said that Perry:

    • Allegedly disregarded campaign finance laws and aided a business that was especially generous to his campaign
    • Refused to operate transparently, and has blocked access to information related to a death penalty case
    • Rejected federal stimulus funds in a manner that appeared to put partisan politics ahead of the interests of the citizens of Texas
    • Has perpetuated the revolving door between government and special interests
    • Accepted travel and campaign donations from a business that received benefits from his official actions
    • Used campaign funds for a personal trip with questionable relevance to his campaign for office

    Catherine Frazier, a campaign spokeswoman, said the report should not be taken seriously.

    "The information is inaccurate," Frazier said. "Gov. Perry has upheld the highest standards on transparency and led the effort in implementing better transparency practices on all levels of government—both local and state."

    Frazier said a Sunshine Week study that ranked the state first in online transparency shows that the governor "has one of the strictest ethics policies in the nation and he is very proud of that."

   Katy Bacon, a campaign spokeswoman for White, also responded to the report.

   "Texans see every day that Rick Perry cares more about himself and his political career than Texas' future," she said in an email. "Chalk up another national headline for Perry - first secession, then presidential ambitions, now a lack of ethics. Texans deserve better."

    Richardson, who is not seeking reelection, also made the list.

    The report charged that Richardson:

    • Allowed political allies to benefit from firms connected to state investments
    • Allowed pay-to-play scandals to plague his administration
    • Rewarded close associates with state positions or benefits, including providing a longtime
friend and political supporter with a costly state contract
    • Fell short on efforts to make state government more transparent

    In an additional "worst governors index" the group provided the following statistics for Perry:

    • Minimum number of former aides to Gov. Perry who became lobbyists: 17
    • Value of an alleged conduit contribution from Perry Homes that Gov. Perry’s campaign intentionally obscured through the misclassification of finance reports: $1 million
    • Minimum amount Bob and Doylenne Perry, owners of Perry Homes, have donated directly to Gov. Perry’s campaign: $840,000
    • Months after receiving a $100,000 from Bob Perry that Gov. Perry named Perry Homes executive John Krugh to the Texas Residential Construction Commission: 1
    • Months after receiving a $100,000 donation from Lonnie Pilgrim that Gov. Perry, as chair of the Republican Governor’s Association, requested a waiver from EPA requirements on Pilgrim’s behalf: 1
    • Months after the waiver came through that Pilgrim donated $25,000 to Gov. Perry’s PAC: 1

    Statistics for Richardson provided by the group are:

    •Minimum amount CDR Financial Products and its chief executive David Rubin gave to Gov. Richardson’s campaigns and associated political committees: $110,000
    •Amount CDR collected in fees from the State of New Mexico in 2004 and 2005 for financing Gov.     Richardson’s Investment Program: $1.48 million

Rick Perry in the report

Bill Richardson in the report

Worst Governors report

Worst Governors index

Comments

[need new governor who is ethical]

And mention that many of Perry's contributors were appointed to university chairs after paying Perry's campaing: Rick Francis and Paul Foster are two from EP.

Wealthy people buying regent seats Perry isn't educational.

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