Barry Smitherman Sued Obama's EPA 7 times to Protect Texas Oil and Gas - Most Qualified for Attorney General

The Texas Attorney General election is not until the March 2014 Republican Primary, but the race is already in full swing. One candidate is clearly the most qualified and experienced for the job. Barry Smitherman. The Texas Attorney General is the top lawyer for the State of Texas. The Attorney General defends Texas against lawsuits, and he also files lawsuits against others, like Obama, on behalf of Texas in order to protect Texas. When the new Texas late term abortion restrictions passed into law, it was the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, who defended the law in court so that the law could go into effect. When Obama passed Obamacare, it was the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, who sued Obama in order to protect the rights of the people of Texas and to protect the state sovereignty of the State of Texas from the over-reaching healthcare law.

Greg Abbott is stepping down from his current job as Texas Attorney General in order to run in the Texas Governor's race. Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman is stepping up and running to fill the shoes that Greg Abbot will be leaving.

So who in the Texas Attorney General's race is actually experienced and qualified to defend the laws of Texas from President Obama's over-reaching administration?

Barry Smitherman is the only candidate with the qualifications and experience to do the job. Why? Because Barry Smitherman has ALREADY sued Obama's EPA 7 times. Greg Abbott likes to say that he has the best job in the world because he wakes up and gets to sue Obama. Well, if you have to replace Abbott, it should be someone who already knows how to sue Obama and loves doing it. The only person in the race who can say that is Barry Smitherman.

Obama's EPA is constantly coming to Texas trying to kill our oil, gas and energy industry. Obama wants to kill our jobs, raise gas prices, and force his climate change agenda on Texas.

Every time Obama's EPA came to Texas to attack our great State, Barry Smitherman was right there standing tall and fighting back. 

As head of the Texas Public Utilities Commission, Smitherman sued Obama's EPA 5 times. Then, as the statewide, elected Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, Smitherman sued Obama's EPA 2 more times. Suing Obama 7 times is a huge statement and one that clearly shows that Smitherman is already ready to step into the position of Texas Attorney General and keep on suing Obama. Smitherman's record is almost too good to be true so PolitiFact has examined all seven lawsuits and has determined that it is true that Smitherman has sues Obama's EPA 7 times. Smitherman really is as conservative, genuine, and dedicated as he seems. His proven record shows that he is not too good to be true. He is just too good.

I want an Attorney General who is not afraid to go toe to toe with Obama and Barry Smitherman has the proven record to show that he can and will Stand up to Obama and protect and defend Texas. According to the Texas Tribune, during one of Smitherman’s past Public Utility Commissions meetings, chairman Barry Smitherman, in a brief digression from the agends, said that the federal agency was attempting to “disarm the U.S. economy,” with a raft of rules covering everything from fly-ash waste from coal plants to greenhouse gasses.

Lastly, check out the video below from Barry Smitherman's campaign. Smitherman calls for Texans to join his conservative crusade to defend and protect the laws and Constitution of the great State of Texas. Count me in!

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Barry Smitherman saved Texas Taxpayers OVER $130 MILLION – Slashed Spending, Cut Budgets – Attorney General Race Update

If you want to know what a fiscally conservative leader looks like, look no further than Texas Attorney General Candidate Barry Smitherman. As Chairman of Texas Public Utility Commission and the Railroad Commission, Barry Smitherman spent DOUBLE DIGET percentages UNDER BUDGET and gave over 130 million dollars back to the State of Texas. (see facts and numbers below)

I don’t care who you are or which candidate you support for the 2014 Texas Attorney General election, Smitherman’s conservative spending record is IMPRESSIVE!

It is rare for a politician or government agency to spend LESS than what they are given because they know they might not be given as much the next year if they do not spend the amount they have this year. It is even rarer for a politician or government agency to ask for a budget that is LESS than what the government agency had been operating on in the past. Smitherman has done both of those and more. Smitherman accomplished this by being a smart conservative and figuring out how to do more for the money.

Barry Smitherman’s campaign sent me the following statement, along with several eye popping facts and numbers to back up Smitherman’s fiscal conservative credentials:

“Barry Smitherman has always looked out for the taxpayers and managed their money as if it was his own.  Smitherman emphasizes and demands efficient management at state agencies, excellent service, and doing more with few taxpayer dollars.”

Overall Spending at Public Utility Commission and Railroad Commission

During Smitherman’s tenure as Chairman of the PUC, the agency spent 20% less than the amount authorized by the Texas Legislature.  Through shrewd fiscal management, under Smitherman’s leadership the PUC returned unspent over $110 million it was allocated in the budget to the State Treasury.  The final appropriation request made by Smitherman as Chairman of the PUC included an operational budget that was nearly 11% less than the agency’s operational budget when he assumed the Chairmanship. 

Under Smitherman’s leadership at the Railroad Commission, the agency’s actual spending was well below its operating budget by more than $10 million in FY 2012.  As a result of effective management, this trend is projected to continue in FY 2013.  The Commission is in the process of closing out the books for FY 2013, but a conservative estimate shows that the Commission’s spending can be as much as $6 million under its budget for FY 2013.

Overall Spending for Personal Government Office

In FY 2012 and 2013, spending for Chairman Smitherman’s personal government office also came in significantly below its operating budget, saving thousands of dollars of taxpayer money.  Additionally, this year, Smitherman rejected thousands of dollars for a budget increase for his personal government office, while the other two candidates for Attorney General approved budget increases for their personal government offices in the House and Senate. 

Contribution to General Revenue

In FY 2013, the Commission spent approximately $20 million of General Revenue (GR), while generating $33 million of GR for the State of Texas.