In New TV Ad, Rick Perry Hits Rivals Who Served in Congress

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - Five days before the caucuses, Rick Perry is looking to drive home the point that he's the "outsider" in the GOP presidential race, releasing a new television ad on Iowa airwaves specifically slamming candidates who served in Congress for a second time.

Titled "Fox," the 30-second ad highlights four candidates who worked on Capitol Hill: Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who represented a Georgia district.

"The fox guarding the henhouse is like asking a congressman to fix Washington: bad idea," a voice reads in the ads as pictures of Bachmann, Paul, Santorum and Gingrich and graphics pop up on the screen. "Their years in Congress left us with debt, bailouts. Congressmen get paid $174,000 a year. We get the bill. We need a solution."

The ad then turns to Perry speaking about his proposal for a part-time Congress at the Fox News Debate Dec. 15 in Sioux City, Iowa.

"That's the reason I've called for a part-time Congress," Perry says. "Cut their pay in half, cut their time in Washington in half, cut their staff in half, send them home. Let them get a job like everybody else back home."

The Texas governor has touted his part-time Congress proposal along with calling for a balanced budget amendment at each of his stops in his two-week bus tour through Iowa. The part-time Congress plan, which was first introduced in Iowa in mid-November, draws large applause from voters at each event as caucus goers voice their frustration with Congress.

Perry last week released an advertisement promoting the part-time Congress plan and hitting his opponents who served in Congress for the first time on Iowa television.