RSS Feed MenuGov. Rick Perry has said more than a few crazy things over the past couple of years, but there is one issue that Bill White is going to have a difficult time painting negatively: Texas has the hottest economy in the nation. CNBC slots Texas as the top state for business in all of America in its new 2010 rankings.
And of course, Texas is also the place to go if you want to get a job. In Forbes’ latest best cities for jobs rankings, four of the top five “best big cities for jobs” are in Texas (1.Austin, 2.San Antonio, 3. Houston, 5. Dallas.)
Speaking on CNBC, Gov. Perry explained his state’s success:
It’s the compilation of four really simple principles: Don’t spend all the money. Have a Legislature that understands that the private sector is where the jobs are created. Government doesn’t create any jobs. We create an environment where private sector types can. Have a regulatory climate that is fair and predictable. A legal system that does not allow for over-suing. And have an accountable public school system that says to those that want to expand or come to your state that there’s a skilled work force here.
As bad as the economy is nationwide, Texas continues to thrive. It’s difficult to imagine that Texans would throw out a governor who watched over the state’s booming economy for the past decade. The old addage that people vote with their wallets is true. So long as his state’s economy holds up, Rick Perry will be tough to beat.
Follow Jeb Golinkin on Twitter: @Jgolinkin
Oldskool // Jul 14, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Of course he wants nothing to do with the federal gubmint but if not for federal stimulus money his deficit would be closer to $11 billion.
He began the deficit in 2006 along with the GOP legislature. Imagine what other states could do if they created a huge credit scheme. They’d start off like Texas and wind up like California.
texaseconomyfailing // Jul 14, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Booming? Seriously? You call an 18 BILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL booming? Gosh you guys must be blinded. Bill White 2010.
JonF // Jul 14, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Texas’ economy sucks too. It just sucks less than much of the rest of the nation. Let’s not define “boom” down so far that it’s a synonym for “mild recession”.
nickthap // Jul 14, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Funny, because in the Forbes article linked to above, job growth in the small cities referenced all have Uncle Sam to thank (read the article for yourself). Washington also heads up the list. So when Rick Perry says government doesn’t create jobs, I guess he’s talking about the Texas State government (which isn’t really true, of course–my wife works for the state of Texas).
As for Texas, we should probably talk about the kinds of jobs being created. This state leads the nation in the per capita numbers of people working for minimum wage. As for Austin (where I live), I wouldn’t be here if my Bay Area employer hadn’t allowed me to telecommute. Wages in Austin suck, even for skilled work. Most jobs are at the bottom of the scale (restaurants, dog walking). The tech sector peaked quite a while back. Nothing ever really replaced the semi-conductor industry here, which has essentially packed its bags and moved to the Far East.
nickthap // Jul 14, 2010 at 4:30 pm
One other thing: with schools in Texas (k-12only–universities here are pretty sub-par), it really depends where you live, because it really is all about property taxes. My area in Austin has OK schools, and we have a 2.8% property tax rate. Yep, you read that right. 2.8%
Madeline // Jul 14, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Texas’ economy sucks too. It just sucks less than much of the rest of the nation. Let’s not define “boom” down so far that it’s a synonym for “mild recession”.
It’s the soft bigotry of low expectations!
One of the reasons that Texas’ economy isn’t as far in the toilet as the rest of the country is that they didn’t experience as drastic a housing boom/bust. This is primarily because they have tougher than average lending laws. Yes, that’s right, Texas actually regulates something more stringently than the rest of the US!
Diomedes // Jul 14, 2010 at 7:01 pm
“As for Austin (where I live), I wouldn’t be here if my Bay Area employer hadn’t allowed me to telecommute”
Well, as someone who lives in the Bay Area, I’ll trade yah.
I’d choose Austin any day of the week and twice on Sunday over living in the Bay Area. Yes, we have higher wages. We also have the highest house prices in the country, the highest rents, one of the highest tax rates, the second to worst school system and the biggest budget shortfall.
But hey, we got the weather. And when the Big One hits, we can make milkshakes.
balconesfault // Jul 14, 2010 at 7:21 pm
lol … as an Austinite, I’m quite happy here. SF is fantastic … I love to visit … but I wouldn’t trade the half-a-mil home we own in west Austin for the 3-million dollar home my friend from college has in Los Altos Hills. Hell, my view is even far far superior to his, and I’m only 20 mins from downtown in normal traffic.
It helps, of course, that I prefer 95 degree days to 65 degree ones
Meanwhile … unfortunately, the 18 billion shortfall alluded to above has reminded some Texans what they don’t like about Rick Perry. The man really doesn’t take responsibility for anything, while wanting to take credit for everything.
And Bill White has closed in the polls to virtually a dead heat, despite really not running that inspirational of a campaign yet.
Imagine – the Republicans running a career politician who has never held a job in his adult life that didn’t come with a government-signed paycheck and rode the tails of a powerhouse political machine to his first elected office, a statewide job … and the Democrats running a guy who was a successful businessman who learned politics and problem solving at the local level (as Houston Mayor).
CAPryde // Jul 14, 2010 at 9:36 pm
As a born-and-bred Texan, I feel proud to point out what my state can teach the rest of the nation:
1) Having the government tightly regulate a volatile sector–in our case, regulating lending in the housing market–can protect you from a bubble.
2) Federal deficit spending during lean years can support job creation and/or protection at the state level when the state budget has a shortfall.
3) Taking a very lax stance on illegal immigration doesn’t seem to be destroying our economy or our social fabric or anything else.
4) Hypocrisy, AKA loudly dissenting with points 1, 2, and 3 while benefiting from them, is okay if you are a governor with good enough hair.
westony // Jul 16, 2010 at 6:46 am
Didn’t they take $550 million in federal unemployment funds last year??
I just read an article on the Va. budget. It’s funny how all the Republican Governors have balanced budgets and surpluses (4) months before the mid’term elections.
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