Rick Perry Lists 3 Departments He’d Cut, But Adds One, Misses Another

By Arlette Saenz
@ArletteSaenz Follow on Twitter
Jan 13, 2012 9:10am

Toni Sandys/The Washington Post/Getty Images

BLUFFTON, S.C. – Oops he did it again. When asked to name and provide the number of federal departments he’d eliminate as president, Texas Gov. Rick Perry managed to list three, but they weren’t the three agencies he consistently names on the stump or that he attempted to name when he committed his now infamous “oops” moment.

“Three right off the bat, you know, commerce, interior and energy are three that you think,” Perry said during a radio interview with Bill Edwards on WTKS Radio in Savannah.

Perry made no mention of the Department of Education, one of the agencies he consistently rails against on the campaign trail, until Edwards asked Perry later in the interview if he’d eliminate that department as well.

“They are blackmailing states with our own money, basically saying here is the national test, and here are the national standards you’re going to put into place,” Perry said. “One size fits all doesn’t work. Well maybe it does in gym socks but it sure doesn’t in how we educate our children.”

Asked if Perry meant to include the Department of Interior in his list, Mark Miner, spokesman for Perry, told reporters: “It shouldn’t be surprising the governor is talking about another federal agency that needs to be looked at and cut.”

During a November CNBC debate in Rochester, Mich., Perry committed the now famous gaffe where he forgot the third agency he’d eliminate as president.

“I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, Education, and the — what’s the third one there? Let’s see,” Perry said in November.

Mitt Romney tossed a suggestion Perry’s way by saying “EPA,” but Perry knew it wasn’t the right one and continued to think of the answer.

“The third agency of government I would — I would do away with, Education, the…,” Perry said.

Another person on stage volunteered Commerce.

“Commerce and, let’s see,” Perry said trying to think of the third agency. “I can’t. The third one, I can’t. Sorry. Oops.”