Senator Charles Perry Responds to Being in Texas Monthly's 'Top Ten Worst Legislators' List

AUSTIN, TX — State Senator Charles Perry (R) of Lubbock who represents Senate District 28 including San Angelo was named to Texas Monthly’s top ten worst legislators following the 85^th regular legislative session.  The progressive-leaning magazine compiles the list every two years following each regular session of the Texas Legislature and released the list Tuesday. Perry is a conservative Republican.

Perry took to Facebook late Tuesday to respond.  The Lubbock senator posted the following:

“Lists are lists and there is usually an agenda behind every one and Texas Monthly's list is no different. Being named on the list only reaffirms that I am in touch with my district’s conservative values and not the values of a liberal Austin publication.”

Perry was elected to the Texas Senate in 2014 after serving two terms in the Texas House.  He is a movement conservative seeking to reduce waste and inefficiencies in government. 

Perry continued. “My record of fighting for common sense government, family, faith, and life of the unborn stands on its own. The almost 80 bills passed into law from legislation I authored or sponsored doesn’t fit the narrative of a left-leaning, non-accountable media outlet in Austin.”

Senator Perry noted some of his conservative accomplishments. “I passed legislation banning sanctuary cities, increased access to health care and ensured affordable basic telephone services in rural areas. Additionally, I protected landowner water rights, religious freedom, improved our foster care system, increased penalties for synthetic drug dealers, paved the way for Texas Tech to open a veteran's health clinic, and protected our agricultural community.”

Texas Monthly justified the listing by detailing his support for two measures; property tax reform and school vouchers. 

“Take his bait and switch on Senate Bill 2, for example. The measure was pitched by Patrick as a property-tax reform, but it would have severely restricted local governments’ ability to raise and spend revenue. The bill was opposed by the mayor of Lubbock, two local county commissioners, and the county judge from San Angelo, all officials in Perry’s district. He was a profile in courage while speaking against the bill on the Senate floor, calling it a “personal assault on their ability to govern on a local level.” Then he voted for it. On the critical role call, the bill passed by a single vote—Perry’s. The measure later died in the House, but that doesn’t excuse his actions.”

On school vouchers, the Austin-based magazine accused Perry, a politician, of playing politics:

“He also supported the controversial private-school-voucher proposal—another bill close to Patrick’s heart though opposed by the Lubbock school board and most rural Texans—but not before offering an amendment to carve out his and other rural districts from the plan. It was a classic not-in-my-backyard move. We hope next session Perry remembers that he’s elected to represent his constituents and the people of Texas, not do the lieutenant governor’s bidding.”

Read More: Perry Makes Texas Monthly's List of Best & Worst Lawmakers.

Perry outlined his success in the regular session this way: 

“I also passed amendments that make it harder for human traffickers to operate in Texas and protected the unborn by helping ban the torturous act of dismemberment abortions.

"Along with my colleagues, we fought for $4.1 million to help fund a veterinary school at Texas Tech and I put a $600,000 budget rider towards blind children receiving developmental assistance.

"It was a privilege to play a significant role with my fellow house and senate colleagues that cannot be discounted from an Austin-based media outlet.

“My record of fighting for Senate District 28 values regarding common sense government, family, faith, and life of the unborn stands on its own. The almost 80 bills passed into law from legislation I authored or sponsored doesn’t fit the narrative of a left-leaning, non-accountable media outlet in Austin,” Perry wrote on Facebook.