Here is the letter that Rick Santorum noted that Rick Perry (and Joe Manchin, then head of the Democratic Governors Association) sent to Congress at the time TARP was being debated:
As leaders of our respective organizations, we don’t always see eye to eye on policy, but we come together today with one clear purpose. We strongly urge Congress to leave partisanship at the door and pass an economic recovery package. We both believe that it’s time to stand together for our country.
There is a time for partisanship and there is a time for getting things done. No one likes the hand they’ve beendealt, and now is not the time to assign blame. It is time for Washington, D.C. to step up, be responsible and dowhat’s in the best interest of American taxpayers and our economy.
This economic crisis is not just impacting Wall Street; it is also making life harder for everyday Americans.Americans across the country and in every demographic are feeling the pinch. If Congress does not act soon, thesituation will grow appreciably worse. It’s time for leadership. Congress needs to act now.
Kay Bailey Hutchison tried to make this an issue in the 2010 Texas gubernatorial primary. She didn’t succeed.