Posted on 08/23/2011 1:16:05 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
SNIP SNIP
So how much of Texas’ relative success is due to Perry and his fiscal policies? Some — but not too much. Perry has faced budget shortfalls based in part on an expanding state government that has grown through the recession: Texas, notes EMSI’s Joshua Wright, is one of only 10 states where state and local government jobs have grown since 2009, rising by almost 30,000 positions. “These numbers don’t exactly bolster Perry’s small-government agenda claims,”says Wright. Free-marketers also point out that Perry clearly favored, sometimes with state funds, people who had the foresight to back his political career.
But Perry has won business support for things other than naked cronyism. Jim DeCosmo, CEO of the Austin-based Forestar Group, credits Perry with maintaining a business-friendly regulatory regime and with important steps for tort reform. These, he feels, both encourage Texas businesses to expand in the state and for out-of-state companies to move in.
Most of the credit for Texas’ success lies primarily in the state’s economic culture. Rice University urban scholar Michael Emerson notes that Texas’ pro-business tilt started well before Perry, and is not restricted to the GOP. Many of the state’s most prominent Democrats — including the man Perry beat for governor last year, former Houston Mayor Bill White — have been strong advocates of economic growth and across-the-board energy development.
“I do not feel Perry has much to do with Texas’ success,” says Houston real estate mogul David Wolff , who last year backed both a GOP challenger to Perry and, later, White. “But at least you can say that he has not appeared to hinder it.”
In fact, Texas’ current and, more so, future prosperity might be better served if a pragmatist like White ruled the Lone Star State.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
As much as any governor or president operating in a free country, with a free people and free market. Not much.
All we ask of them is do no harm. Something Obama has failed miserably at.
>> In fact, Texas’ current and, more so, future prosperity might be better served if a pragmatist like White ruled the Lone Star State.
That ignorant statement helps me decide how much (or little) value to place in Joel Kotkin’s punditry.
A “pragmatist”like White would be captive to ALL the same forces that dominate the national Democratric Party. The previous candidate for governor might have been elected if he had been willing to proclaim himself pro-life. A “pragmatic” canddiate would do this in a state where pro-life sentiment dominates as much as pro-choice sentiment dominates in New York States. Back in 1952, Allan Shivers, a conservative Democratic government, went against the national party and supported Eisenhower. No one running on the Democratic ticket for any major office would dare defy the DNC diktat on any significant issue, even though public opinion in this state is adverse to the Democratic position on almost every such issue.
I disagree with the article. Note that they quoted dims as their sources.
I have a manufacturing business in Texas. The state regulators enforce the law, but are very business friendly.
For example, TCEQ, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality runs pollution prevention classes. Their philosophy is “There is no such thing as waste. Every hazardous substance can be recycled into a product. We just have to find that use.” They helped me identify several potential re-uses of my factory wastes to reduce the waste streams going to hazardous landfills.
Contrast that with the cold, uncaring disdain that the EPA has shown in their job-killing mandates.
Every state employee that I call in Austin is polite and helpful.
Give some credit to Perry. He IS the Chief Exec of the state and has influenced the culture of state government.
Whatever Perry ‘Didn’t do’ is what we hope he ‘doesn’t do’ to the rest of the country. As opposed to what Obama and the DC establishment have been ‘doing’ to the country and its economy for many decades.
Yeah, I’d say he’s been pretty inconsequential in my life... Good job governor!
As always, the author fails to provide context. let's look at this in terms of the number state residents to the number of public employees (everything from police/fire/teachers to the janitors in public office buildings). In 2001, there 13.3 residents for every public employee in Texas. In 2010, there were 13.5 residents per public employee. SO there are actually more residents per public employee (or conversely, fewer public employees per 100 residents) than when Perry took office. Keep in mind that Texas is growing faster than any other state in the union - that will translate into more teachers, more police, more firemen, etc.
Well, leaving gov’t alone and not passing a myriad of new laws helps. Sometimes sitting back and letting things work appear to be doing nothing. If only the DC legislators could take a lesson in really doing nothing. Especially when doing something gave us Obama care and the stimulus and all the Green laws.
The real data shows that there are (slightly) FEWER state workers now, per resident, then there were when Perry took office. Any spin that doesn’t mention this is propaganda.
Here is a more detailed evaluation of his tenure as Governor in relation to economic concerns: http://clubforgrowth.org/whitepapers/?subsec=137&id=953
That also explains a lot of the increase in government spending.
“some but not too much.”
It’s more than Obama has done.
“He at least has appeared not to have hindered it (growth).”
Again, more than Obama has done.
“A pragmatist like White in the White House.”
Until that day, Perry will do just fine.
“some but not too much.”
It’s more than Obama has done.
“He at least has appeared not to have hindered it (growth).”
Again, more than Obama has done.
“A pragmatist like White ruling the Lone Star Stare.” (correction).
Until that day, Perry will do just fine.
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