Policy Matters Forum Tuesday in Austin

AFP Foundation and Lone Star Foundation host policy forum

Texas has the most vibrant economy in the country today. We Texans may from time to time take for granted the relative good economy we are enjoying here in the Lone Star State. Few citizens realize the progress Texas has made to be the best economy in the nation.

AFP-Texas Foundation is launching a new effort – Lone Star Strong (www.LoneStarStrong.com) to show how limited-government policies result in economic expansion and prosperity. The first research paper for this site compares Texas' policies and economy to that of other states.

The paper written by Dr. Noel Campbell, Policy Matters: a Comparative Analysis of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and other States, looks at how policies have impacted economic growth and prosperity in the states.

At the same time, we realize that taxpayers are impacted by taxation and spending at the local level and the policy forum will feature an updated study by the Lone Star Foundation: RX for Property Tax Reform written by Will Lutz and David Hartman.

The public, media and policymakers and their staff are invited to attend the briefing.

Policy Matters Briefing
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
1-3 pm
Texas Capitol, Rm E2.012.

Texas' economy is best in the country

Gov. Rick Perry spoke at a ribbon-cutting in North Richland Hills recently:

“Here in Texas, we have worked hard to create and preserve a job-friendly economic climate, where innovation is rewarded and employers have the best chance to succeed. We are seeing more fruits of those labors as we welcome the return of a key manufacturer to this area and the 250 jobs that accompany the revival of this facility,” Gov. Perry said.

“The jobs they are creating are part of a great overall trend for Texas, where our unemployment rate is the lowest among the nation’s 10 largest states and we produced more private sector jobs than any other state in the nation over the past 10 years.”

The governor credited Texas’ low taxes, reasonable and predictable regulatory climate, and skilled and educated workforce with helping to attract companies that are looking to expand or relocate.

Texas was recently named the number one exporting state in the nation for the eighth year in a row, and according to Moody’s Economy, seven Texas metro areas are expected to be among the first to emerge from the recession. Forbes lists Texas as having one of the lowest debt burdens in the country, and a study conducted by Allied Van Lines found that more individuals and families chose to move to Texas than anywhere in the U.S. in 2009. Additionally, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas created more private sector jobs than any other state in the nation over the last 10 years, and has the lowest unemployment rate among the 10 largest states in the nation.

For more information on how Texas is #1, go to: www.LoneStarStrong.com

Texas Beats Other States out of Recession

March 22 (Bloomberg) -- Texas, the second-most populous U.S. state, is among the first to emerge from the recession that began in December 2007 as job growth returned sooner, Comerica Inc. said in a report.

The Texas economy followed other states into the worst economic slump in the U.S. since 1930s, bottomed in September 2009 and the Texas economy began growing, five months before job growth hit bottom for the rest of the country, according to the report today by Dana Johnson, the chief economist at the Dallas-based bank.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aV5B8K80bQaU

Good policies have produced prosperity in Texas - stay tuned for more information on how Texas is Number One and deserves the designation "Lone Star Strong"...www.LoneStarStrong.com