Perry's Plan: Kill Federal Agencies, Make Congress Part-Time
BETTENDORF, Iowa (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry, looking to breathe new life into his bid for the Republican nomination, proposed major changes to the federal government if he is elected.
Perry announced details of the plan at a campaign stop in Iowa Tuesday morning. The plan includes ending lifetime appointments for federal judges, passing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution and privatizing federal housing lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
One of Perry's biggest proposals is to make Congress a part-time entity. He wants to cut Representatives' salaries in half and reduce the time they spend in Washington.
Texas has a part-time legislative branch which meets every two years.
Perry also wants to restructure the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. And he wants to turn the Transportation Security Administration into a public-private partnership.
Perry's plan also includes a constitutional amendment that would change Supreme Court justices' tenure from lifetime appointments to 18-year terms. Those staggered terms would begin every two years, Perry says, so that the most senior justices would step down from the bench every other year.
The governor also proposes changes in congressional spending. He wants to require a two-thirds majority to approve tax increases, end "bailouts and earmarks," and cap federal spending to 18 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
And Perry repeated his idea to eliminate the federal departments of Commerce, Education and Energy -- the list which was the source of his now-infamous "oops" memory lapse in a Republican candidate debate last week.
"The question for Iowans in 50 days is not whether to embrace change, but for Iowans to decide who is the most credible messenger for that change," said Perry on Monday.
The Texas Republican said other candidates offer lots of rhetoric on conservative issues, but he has a decade-long record of delivering on them as governor.
"Leadership isn't about style, it's about substance, about action," said Perry.
While other candidates tout their anti-abortion views "I signed a budget that defunded Planned Parenthood in Texas," said Perry.
Perry focused much of his fire on President Obama, saying voters have grown weary of the president, but he was not shy about making the case that he would make a better rival than any of his Republican opponents, largely because he aggressively confronts Obama and offers the most dramatic change.
"I'm in this race for the presidency not because of some lifelong ambition, but because the American people are yearning for someone who will tell them the truth," said Perry. "If you want real change, if you want to overhaul business as usual, caucus for me."
Perry dismissed Obama's campaign, saying many don't want to follow a leader who got the nation into its current difficulties.
"I, for one, do not believe the people who got us into this mess can get us out of it," said Perry.
Perry also poked fun at his campaign style, which he described as far from polished. He said that campaign style, however, is coupled with a fierce determination to stick with his principles.
"I'm not the most polished candidate, but I stick to my principles," said Perry.
Perry drifted briefly to foreign affairs, where he argued against Obama's involvement on foreign conflicts.
"I think any discussion of funding foreign aid should start with the number zero," said Perry. "There are millions of Americans on the mat, not because of a foreign power but because of flawed federal policies."
(© Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
