Malloy: Trump's Nomination of Perry to Energy Department 'An Affront to Taxpayers'

Gov. Dannel Malloy is none too pleased with the announcement that President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to head the U.S. Department of Energy.

“Appointing a person to lead the very federal agency he called to eliminate is an affront to taxpayers, the industry, and department public servants," Malloy said in a statement.

Perry was a serious contender for the Republican presidential candidate nomination during the 2012 campaign.

He famously slipped up in 2011 when he was asked what U.S. departments he would eliminate. He wanted to eliminate the Department of Energy, but couldn't remember its name while answering a question during the debate.

The Department of Energy is also responsible for the nation's nuclear weapon design, according to the New York Times. The last two secretaries of the department were physicists.

Malloy called for someone to head the Department of Energy that has the commitment to move the country forward and not backward on energy needs.

"Those who question that we are responsible for global warming cannot seriously be considered for confirmation by the Senate," he said. "One need not look too far to find a candidate far more qualified to run this important agency than Governor Perry."

Image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr Commons