Oops: Perry adds new agency to cut, forgets another

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry may have had another "oops" moments on Friday.

The Texas governor managed to recite three federal agencies he would abolish as president -- but one of them was the wrong one.

"Three right off the bat, you know, commerce, interior and energy are three that you think," Perry told WTKS-AM's Bill Edwards.

The only problem is that Perry is on the record wanting to cut the Department of Education, not the Department of the Interior.

"Gov. Perry, I would think getting rid of the Department of Education too," the conservative radio host prompted.

"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 agreed. “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.”

Perry campaign spokesman Mark Miner told reporters that the governor had not made a mistake by including the Interior Department in his latest list.

“It shouldn’t be surprising the governor is talking about another federal agency that needs to be looked at and cut,” Miner said.

Perry's campaign has been trying to recover ever since the governor failed to remember which agencies he would cut during a debate in November.

“The third agency of government — I would do away with Education, the, um, Commerce and let’s see,” Perry said, glancing down at the podium. “I can’t. The third one, I can’t. Sorry. Oops.”

By adding just one more agency to his list -- House and Urban Development -- Perry could find himself in agreement with Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).

Listen to this audio from WTKS-AM's Bill Edwards, broadcast Jan. 13, 2012.

Download MP3 audio file