Governor Perry Sets Deadline for Debate

Will they or won’t they debate?

 

It’s not looking good for voters who really want to compare the two candidates for governor side by side on the important issues before November’s election.

 

Today, Governor Rick Perry announced that he released his 2009 tax returns and challenged Bill White to release his tax returns from the time he served as Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party and Deputy Secretary of Energy.  

 

Perry set a September 15th deadline.   Keep in mind that White has released all of his tax returns for the years that he served as Mayor of  Houston.I really don’t understand why Gov. Perry is determined to set his own rules and conditions for the debate. On the other hand, if White released those forms a debate would be scheduled.

 

I’ve posted the entire Perry campaign statement below:

 

 

Gov. Perry Releases 2009 Tax Returns, Sets Sept. 15 Deadline For Bill White To Release Missing Taxes From His Years In Public Service
Failure by Bill White to come clean will prevent candidate debate

Gov. Rick Perry today released his 2009 tax returns and issued a final call for Bill White to come clean and release all of his income taxes from his years in public service. Gov. Perry has released all of his income taxes dating back to 1987.

If Bill White fails to release the income tax returns he filed while serving the public as Deputy Secretary of Energy (1993-95) and as Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party (1995-98) by September 15, the people of Texas will not get the opportunity to see the candidates debate.

For 179 days, Bill White has prevented debate discussions from occurring by refusing to allow Texans to learn from his tax returns how he profited while serving in public positions that required him by law to file annual personal financial disclosures.

“Texans are tired of waiting for Bill White to release his taxes, as am I,” said Gov. Perry. “I am eager to participate in a debate, as I have during previous statewide campaigns, but if Bill White refuses to be honest with the people of Texas about how he profited while serving the public, I will not share a debate stage with him. Bill White’s staunch opposition to transparency is unbecoming of someone seeking to be elected the chief executive of the greatest state in the nation. There is a very simple solution to this situation. Release your taxes, Mr. White, and we can move forward with debate preparations.”

Copies of Gov. Perry’s 2009 tax returns are available upon request.