SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Republican Gov. Rick Perry says he has a responsibility as governor to confront Bill White on missing income tax returns in his refusal to debate the Democratic challenger.
Perry said Monday that holding out on a debate is his leverage in forcing the former Houston mayor to release income tax returns dating to his time as deputy energy secretary in the mid-1990s.
Perry called it his "responsibility." He said finding out what White is hiding in January if elected "would be a bad, bad time."
The state's largest daily newspapers announced plans last week to hold a gubernatorial debate in October with or without Perry.
White has already accepted the invitation.
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