SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Republican Gov. Rick Perry says he has a
responsibility as governor to confront Bill White on missing income
tax returns in his refusal to debate the Democratic challenger.

Perry said Monday that holding out on a debate is his leverage
in forcing the former Houston mayor to release income tax returns
dating to his time as deputy energy secretary in the mid-1990s.

Perry called it his "responsibility." He said finding out what
White is hiding in January if elected "would be a bad, bad time."
 

The state's largest daily newspapers announced plans last week
to hold a gubernatorial debate in October with or without Perry.
White has already accepted the invitation.