Gov. Rick Perry called the debate over equal pay between men and women "nonsense" on Tuesday, suggesting candidates in the race for Texas governor should focus on other issues, POLITICO reported.
"If they want to talk about substantive issues in Texas in this governor's race, let's talk about tax policy, regulatory policy, legal policies. But to go focus on this issue of a piece of legislation that already - that we already have laws that protect it, is nonsense," Perry said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Perry's comments were in answer to a question about the continuing debate between Republican Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Democratic state Senator Wendy Davis.
Earlier this week, Davis slammed Abbott for not supporting new legislation promoting equal pay for women, prompting Abbott to respond that he already does.
Perry expressed his support for Abbott in the race.
"I vetoed that bill the last session of the Legislature," Perry said. "Why do we need to muddle up our statutes when we already have laws on the books that clearly take care of this? ... I support and help lift up women in the state of Texas, as do, I think, our policies in the state. But for the sole purpose of politics, and let's face it, this was passed for no other reason than to say we're going to make you veto this bill."
Though Perry is stepping down from his role as governor, he told "Morning Joe" that he's is considering a run for president in 2016.
