Progressive PAC buys anti-Perry ads in California

AUSTIN  (AP) — A progressive Texas political action committee taunted Gov. Rick Perry's recent California trip in radio ads broadcast there on Tuesday, calling him "Governor Oops" and dismissing as "snake oil" Perry's promises of tax breaks for businesses that relocate to Texas.

The small ad buy was in response to Perry's highly promoted and publicized trip this week to California, where he says he is trying to convince companies to move. A privately-funded marketing firm featured Perry in ads last week that denigrated California taxes and regulation and touted the Texas business climate.

In the Lone Star Project ad on Tuesday, a male voice with a Texas drawl apologizes to Californians with blues music playing in the background.

"Well, it looks Rick Perry got out again and Governor Oops is running around selling snake oil and talking about big tax breaks if you move your business to Texas," the 30-second ad said. "Check the fine print. About the only people who get those are the ones who hand him big campaign cash."

Perry oversees an economic development program called the Texas Enterprise Fund, which gives taxpayer funds to companies that agree to relocate and create jobs in Texas. Critics have long complained that the fund operates with minimal oversight and often benefits companies with ties to Perry's campaign donors.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has said business relocations have little to no impact on the either state's economy and has dismissed Perry's trip as a political stunt. Conservative groups in California, however, have seized upon Perry's visit to criticize Brown's policies.

Perry's office cited the end of the Lone Star Projects' ad which said, "come to Texas, you'll love it like we do."

"This just shows that even misinformed and angry liberals prefer living in Texas to high-tax, high regulation states like California," Perry spokesman Josh Havens said.

In a press release, the Lone Star Project pointed out that many companies that have received enterprise funds have failed to create the number of jobs promised, prompting the governor's office to renegotiate the initial agreements.