Rick Perry in USA Today

On Gun Control: Welcomes NRA with a video of him using semi-automatic rifle

The Texas House approved a batch of bills to further soften gun laws that were already among the country's most firearms-friendly, allowing college students to carry handguns in class, and exempting the state from any future federal bans on assault rifles, high-capacity magazines or universal background checks.

Dubbed "gun day" by supporters and opponents alike, the parade of votes came as thousands of members of the National Rifle Association attended the group's annual convention in Houston. Gov. Rick Perry welcomed convention attendees with a video of him taking target practice using a semi-automatic rifle.

The 12 approved gun bills must all clear final, procedural votes before heading to the state Senate. A Democratic parliamentary point of order managed to shoot down just one, a bill that would have allowed the use of a concealed handgun license as valid proof of identity--even though obtaining such licenses requires a background check that's not necessary to get driver licenses.

Source: USA Today on Texas "Gun Day" voting record May 4, 2013

On Health Care: Require 6th graders to receive STD vaccination

One of the biggest objections Tea Party groups have with Perry was his decision to sign an executive order in 2007 requiring all sixth-graders in the state to get vaccinated against HPV, or human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease. The Legislature passed a bill striking down Perry's order two months later.

"That's something that we the people need to decide for ourselves," a Tea Party spokesperson said.

Source: Alan Gomez in USA TODAY, "Tea Party" Aug 8, 2011

On Technology: Trans-Texas corridor: 4000 miles of highway & utilities

One of the biggest objections Tea Party groups have with Perry is his support for the Trans-Texas Corridor--a plan that would have created more than 4,000 miles of superhighways, rails and utility lines, cost more than $100 billion and required the taking of private property through eminent domain. The proposal was eliminated by the state Legislature this year. Source: Alan Gomez in USA TODAY, "Tea Party" Aug 8, 2011

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