What is Spin Check? As part of our coverage of Decision 2010 and the elections that affect Texas we put political ads to the test.
Border security is a big issue in Texas, and both Bill White and Gov. Rick Perry are talking tough on their plans for the border. But what's true and what's false?
We've already put Rick Perry's border ad through our Spin Check. Now it's time to test Bill White's border ad.
Here's what Bill White's ad says:
"We believe that federal immigration laws should be enforced. We believe, Texans believe,that we need federal help in securing that border. Rick Perry has been governor for nine and a half years, you would think that he would have been able to get some of the federal resources that he now claims we needed all these years. As Governor, I'll put 1,000 more police officers and deputy sheriffs all along our border, arresting the gang members, the drug dealers and let them know things aren't safe for them in Texas."
In the ad, Bill White says, "Rick Perry has been governor for nine and a half years, you would think that he would have been able to get some of the federal resources that he now claims we needed all these years." That claim is FALSE. Perry has "been able to get some of the federal resources."
Perry has secured some federal resources for border security. Back in August, the federal government announced that 1,200 National Guard troops would be sent to the southwest border. In a letter addressed to President Barack Obama, Perry requested 1,000 National Guard troops for Texas and received 286. Perry called the number of troops received "insufficient."
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Perry has also spent at least $2 million from a federal grant to install Web cameras that monitor the border, though critics say the webcams are not effective in stopping illegal activity.
It's also worth noting that even though the two were political opponents during the primary, Perry did work with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (and other members of the federal delegation) to get the U.S. military to send Predator drones to patrol the border.
And finally, Perry spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger confirmed that in the last two years, the state of Texas did receive and spend $45 million in federal stimulus funds. The money went to border security and paying for patrol boats and vehicles for the Texas Department of Public Safety, radios and overtime pay for local agencies patrolling the border.
The rest of White's ads were campaign promises which can't be judged true or false.
