Governor Perry's statement in full: "After carefully considering the facts of this case, along with the recommendation from the Board of Pardons and Paroles, I believe the right and just decision is to commute Foster's sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment. I am concerned about Texas law that allowed capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously and it is an issue I think the Legislature should examine."

Commented Lily Hughes of Campaign to End the Death Penalty: "Governor Perry once said that there was no hue and cry against the death penalty in Texas. Well, here was your hue and cry."