Rick Perry’s promises

With Texas Gov. Rick Perry no longer pursuing the presidency, we kick-started the Perry-O-Meter, which gauges whether Perry has fulfilled promises he made before winning his third full term as governor in 2010.

How’s he doing lately?

We rated as Broken his September 2009 vow to impose criminal penalties on employers who knowingly violate employment laws by hiring workers who are in Texas illegally. Various proposals to create such penalties were offered in the 2011 regular legislative session; none passed into law.

Two education-tied promises fared better.

Perry’s October 2009 call to double the number of academies serving students in grades 6 through 12 with a focus on science, engineering, technology and math has not been fulfilled. However, more academies have been added, despite reductions in state funding. We rated this promise In The Works.

Perry also announced his desire to supplement the academies by creating a $100 million college scholarship fund for students in science, engineering, technology and math. The 2011 Legislature authorized the scholarships, we found, though lawmakers did not pony up funding. In July 2011, though, the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp. pledged $25 million for the fund. We rated this promise a Compromise.

See the Perry-O-Meter and all Perry’s promises here.