Gov. Rick Perry (left), Democrat Bill White (right)
HOUSTON (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry has given Houston's business community an update on Texas' economy in a speech titled "State of the State," prompting his Democratic gubernatorial opponent to accuse him of using his government office for political gain.
Perry made his speech to the Greater Houston Partnership on Tuesday, repeating his mantra that Texas has weathered the recession better than any other state. Asked about the name of the speech, normally preserved for an official address to the state Legislature, Perry brushed it off as semantics.
Democrat Bill White's campaign accused Perry Tuesday of blurring the lines between politics and government. He says Perry is using groups like the Greater Houston Partnership as a "political stage" ahead of the election.
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