Governor Rick Perry spoke for the first time about his office's questionable policy of deleting emails from its server after seven days. This policy was the reason for The Purge series, and The Purge: Part One inspired open government activist, John Washburn, to request several weeks worth of the governor's emails as a challenge to the policy.

Because of the cost of the emails -- which are considered public records -- Washburn could only get four days worth. From just that snapshot, reporters have been able to find previously uncovered stories about Texas government:

The AP found within those emails that more abused or neglected children are forced to stay in emergency shelters with their case workers.

The Star-Telegram found communication within the office about Governor Perry spending his time campaigning for Rudy Giuliani, among other things.

Perry was asked about the policy in a longer-than-usual press conference in his office this afternoon. Jay Root, the Star-Telegram reporter who first combed through the emails, asked Perry about the policy. In answering the question, he makes a slight personal dig at Root:

"If an email actually has some impact on an issue rather than 'so-and-so had a liquid lunch', which is salacious, and I know you love voyeurism. I mean, I know that about you," Governor Perry said. "The fact of the matter is that if we're allowed to make a decision about keeping records that are important, then I think we do that."

1 Comments

John Washburn said:

Does this mean Governor Perry is encouraging someone to ask for a month's worth of email from the Office of Representative Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles
or the office of Senator Leticia Van de Putte?

If so then it should be a Texan, because this cheese-head is busy enough.
:-)

February 3, 2008 12:04 AM

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