Gov. Goodhair Goes Nuts With Vetoes

Look what I can do
with my veto pen!

In a post-regular-session veto frenzy, Gov. Perry (R-TX) axed 26 bills from the regular session and several line items (yes, the Texas Guv can do that). Notable are line items providing funding for Travis County (i.e., Austin) public corruption investigations and prosecutions, and the Lilly Ledbetter act aimed at providing equal pay for equivalent work by women. (In Texas in 2012, women earned 85.6% of men's wages on average... earning Texas a fairly high rank nationally, but considering the difference ought to be zero, it's still hard to justify.) Other Perry vetoes included women's health and women's rights bills, as well as several education funding bills.

None of this will cost Perry politically. He and his wealthy handlers have a veritable lock on the Governor's Office. Don't expect any inroads to be made against corruption anytime soon.