TribBlog: In his own words

The full text from state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh's e-mail response to The Texas Tribune for the story "Shapleigh Ever After" is pretty illuminating when it comes to his designs on the governor's office. Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

"After a decade under Rick Perry, Texas is no longer competitive. That's his business council saying that, not me or other Democrats.

"Interest rates on payday loans from Laredo to Lampasas are 1100%. Homeowner's insurance rates are highest in the US. Skies across Texas are the most polluted in America. Health insurance premiums are up 90%. College tuition has moved out of reach. Texas is first in drop outs, near last in SAT's.

"Perry's legacy is making Texas the playpen of predators--his leadership lines the pockets of the wealthy, and empties the wallets of everyday Texans. Texas is better than that.

"In her heart, Texas is a populist state. Voters value a government by and for people, not the wealthiest contributor. A majority of Texans already voted to retire Rick Perry. His ties to big banks, predatory lenders, credit card companies, insurance companies and polluters are now well understood. The key is turnout. If turnout matches March 2008, Rick Perry gets retired. When he leaves Austin, people not predators, polluters and paid lobbyists run the state. We believe that most Texans thirst for that message and that day.

"Here's the truth. When polled a majority say cut my property taxes by 90%, pay for good schools with a fair tax on income, deduct that tax from my federal tax, but keep lawmakers away from changing the rates. Under that system, seven in ten Texans pay lower net taxes. That's why 43 states have that system. Perry's done the bidding of billionaires so long, that he has kept that secret from the people. Instead, Perry has cut taxes for the wealthy few, and shifted them to you. That's a debate Texas needs to hear."