It’s oil. The price of oil went up and oil states boomed.
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Disagree. It’s a State’s Governor and Legislature that takes care NOT to pass into law rules, taxes and regulations that suppress the free market and entrepreneurs. ...That doesn’t just happen in “oil states”. Florida is an example and I think is #2 in incoming businesses.
Since you’re a “Native Texan”, I’m sure you also understand how your forebears were also responsible by setting it up so the Legislature only meets for a limited number of days and every other year. Gives ‘em less of a chance to screw it up!