Battleground Texas:
"For too long Rick Perry, Greg Abbott and the Texas GOP have assumed voters wouldn't hold them accountable for their actions. We now have a Governor who's been booked on two felony counts – for coercion and abuse of power. Add that to Greg Abbott's sweetheart deals for his inner circle, and Dan Patrick's incendiary anti-immigrant rhetoric, and one thing becomes clear: the GOP isn't working for you.
Recommended Videos
"Our directive couldn't be clearer: together with our partners, we will continue to register voters, engage them in the democratic process and make sure that all Texans know they have a choice in this election."
Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Will Hailer:
"Governor Perry, like any Governor, has the constitutional authority to veto. But he stepped over the line when he abused his power and coerced an elected official. It's clear Governor Perry will blame anyone but himself for these actions.
"Calling this a partisan attack is just a sideshow. The District Judge with jurisdiction in the case was a Republican appointed by Perry. The presiding judge in charge: a Republican. The special prosecutor: a Republican who served as a U.S. prosecutor under George W. Bush. The grand jury: a jury of Perry's Texan peers, randomly selected to carry out their civic duty.
"Perry and his Republican cronies have built a culture where rules are ignored and games are played. For years, they have been trying to end funding for the public integrity unit - the only entity that serves as a watchdog in Austin. Perry finally saw his opportunity to bully the leader of this unit out of office and in doing so broke the law.
"Between using taxpayer dollars to run for President and defending himself in court, it's clear Governor Perry is no longer looking out for the best interests of Texans but for the best interest of himself."