4 Republicans, 5 Democrats
List can be found on the TEC Website - here.
What does this mean for Speaker Tom Craddick? The big question is whether he will be re-elected or not; but, with 68 of the 74 House Democrats meeting to unite behind one D candidate and Republicans fracturing the Republican vote...
the votes for Tom Craddick are seemingly decreasing.
The fractured Republican support may just pave a way toward a Democrat as our next Texas Speaker of the House.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Smoking Ban Shenanigans
But at Wednesday’s city council briefing, he let his desires get in the way of fair and equal treatment of the people he serves: the citizens of
Discussion of the smoking ordinance was supposed to take place immediately following the council’s lunch -- which ended around 3 p.m. The local citizens had been waiting for the chance to speak to the council since 1 p.m. Ironically, the city council chose to re-open their briefing within an hour of the arrival of several pro-smoking ban activists.
When the meeting opened, these pro-ban individuals were given the opportunity to speak to the council. However, due to mixed messages from the city staff, including the city secretary, only one person was allowed to speak against the all-out ban.
AFP's Texas State Director Peggy Venable said these shenanigans "threw freedom-loving citizens for a loop.”
“Business owners should have the right to set policies for the use of their own properties, and they should certainly have a right to publicly speak at a city council meeting when government is threatening regulations which will hurt their businesses.
Americans for Prosperity opposes smoking bans as a violation of consumer choice and free market principals. The solution AFP recommends is simple: encourage business owners to post a sign outside their establishments that identify then as smoking or non-smoking.
Texas Remains Red
Here are the Election Results, Texas-style...
Texas November 4, 2008 election night highlights
Early voting was the winner with 47 % of the voters casting their votes before Nov 4.
With 13,575,062 registered voters in Texas, 59% cast their ballots this election cycle.
At the top of the ticket, McCain carried TX with 55%.
US Congress – Texas picked up one Republican seat and kept Sen. Cornyn.
Sen. John Cornyn was re-elected with 55% of the vote.
Republicans picked up a US House seat with Pete Olson defeating incumbent Nick Lampson who took Tom DeLay’s seat in a special election for HD 22.
So Texans will now send 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats to DC, a pickup of one Republican seat.
Texas Statewide elections saw no changes
Republican Michael Williams won re-election to the Texas Railroad Commission with 52% of the vote.
Each of the 3 sitting Texas Supreme Court Justices on the ballot won re-election with 51 and 52% margins. All 3 are Republicans.
Three Republicans on the Court of Criminal Appeals handily won re-election.
State Board of Education saw no upsets as the five Republicans and two Democrats won their re-election bids.
TX Senate – D’s gained 1 seat, one in run-off, now 19 R’s, 12 D’s
Of the seats up this cycle, only one incumbent lost as Republican Kim Brimer lost his bid for re-election to Wendy Davis in SD 10. That shifted one seat from the Republicans to the Democrats making the totals now 19 R’s and 12 D’s.
The special election for SD 7, Kyle Janek’s vacated seat, is in a run-off between Democrat Chris Bell and Republican Joan Huffman. They received 38% and 26% respectively.
TX House – D’s gained 3 seats now 76 R’s, 74 D/s
HD 11 – Republican Brian Walker came within .2% of taking out incumbent Chuck Hopson losing by 102 out of 52,830 votes cast.
HD 17 – Republican Tim Kleinschmidt beat Donnie Dippel for Robby Cook’s seat, an R pick-up.
HD 29 – Randy Webber, Republican handily defeated Kevin Murphy for the Mike O’Day seat. The seat didn’t change parties
HD 32 – Todd Hunter defeated Democrat incumbent Juan Garcia 50% to 47%.
HD 47 – Donna Keel failed to unseat Democrat Valinda Bolton.
HD 48 – Pam Waggoner failed to take Democrat Donna Howard’s seat.
HD 52 – In this open seat once vacated by Mike Krusee, this once considered safe Republican seat went to Democrat Diana Maldonado who beat Brian Daniel by less than 1%. The Libertarian candidate got almost 4%.
HD 55 – open seat - Republican Ralph Sheffield handily beat Democrat Sam Murphey
(this is formerly the Republican Diane Delisi seat)
HD 73 – Republican Doug Miller handily defeated Daniel Boone in this open seat after defeating Nathan Macias in the primary.
HD 78 – Republican Dee Margo who beat Pat Haggerty in the primary was defeated by Democrat Joseph Moody so this El Paso seat goes to the Democrats.
HD 81 – Tryon Lewis easily picked up the former Buddy West open seat.
HD 82 – Speaker Tom Craddick easily beat challenger Bill Dingus
HD 96 – Democrat Chris Turner unseated Republican incumbent Bill Zedler 51-47%.
HD 97 – Republican Challenger Mark Shelton defeated incumbent Dan Barrett 55-45%.
HD 101 – Democrat Robert Miklos defeated Republican Mike Anderson by 1.2%
(The Republican incumbent Thomas Latham was defeated in the primaries)
HD 102 – Democrat Challenger Carol Kent defeated incumbent Tony Goolsby 53-47%.
HD 105 – Incumbent Republican Linda Harper-Brown narrowly defeated challenger Bob Romano by a mere 25 out of 40,700 votes cast.
HD 107 – Conservative Bill Keffer failed to unseat incumbent Democrat Allen Vaught to win back the seat he lost last cycle. The vote was 50-47%.
HD 112 – Republican Angie Button won this seat with 56% of the vote against Democrat Sandra Vule. The Libertarian candidate earned over 4% of the vote in this open seat.
HD 130 – Republican Allan Fletcher beat libertarian candidate William Gray Junior to keep this seat Republican after defeating Corbin Van Arsdale in the primary.
HD 133 – Incumbent Republican Jim Murphy lost to Democrat Kristi Thibaut by 464 votes.
HD 144 – Republican Ken Legler defeated Joel Redmond for this open seat formerly held by Republican Robert Talton.
Bond Initiatives
A total of 37 School districts had bond initiatives on the November ballot. Only 11 failed, bringing the total debt passed in one day in Texas to a startling $1.4 billion. The largest was for $219 million in Allen, Texas. It appears even in this tough economy, most passed. The listing is here: http://s3-texasisd.s3.amazonaws.com/Public/Nov08_bond.pdf
Tax Rollback Elections
It appears that around 47% of the tax rollback elections in 49 ISD’s passed. That means that half the time, voters didn’t allow the taxing authority to take in more revenue. Six are slated for later this year. We thank the Texas ISD website for this information and for the bond initiative data: http://s3-texasisd.s3.amazonaws.com/Public/Nov08_TRE.pdf
Harris County
218,182 registered voters and 62.6% of them participated in this election
47% of the Republicans voted straight party ticket compared to 53% of the Democrats; but 59% of the early voting Democrats cast straight party votes; 119,484 cast a vote in the open senate seat SD 17 (Chris Bell and Joan Huffman are headed to a runoff)
Republican County Judge Ed Emmett won handily with 54% of the vote; Republican County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt won with 54% of the vote, Pct 3 County Commissioner Steve Radack won with 60%.
Almost 16% under voted down ballot, and a number of local judges were unseated. Even though Obama won big in this Houston area, Republicans Ed Emmit was re-elected as County Judge and taxpayer advocate Paul Bettencourt kept his seat as Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Dallas AFP Action Item
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert will hold a council briefing tomorrow to talk about amendments to the city's smoking ordinance.
Click here to view Dallas City County Agenda
These amendments, if passed, would make Dallas completely smoke-free. Bar and tobacco shop owners would no longer have the ability to let customers smoke on the premises, which violates their property rights.
We know that smoking bans hurt local businesses and economies and tells these small business owners that the government knows better how to run their businesses. We need your help.
Please e-mail or call the mayor and city council TODAY to tell them know we oppose any further action to restrict these private property owners' rights. The smoking ordinance briefing will happen at 1:15 p.m. on the sixth floor of City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street. The council plans to put the amendments to a vote at their Nov. 19 regular meeting.
CONTACT:
Click here to view Dallas City County Agenda
These amendments, if passed, would make Dallas completely smoke-free. Bar and tobacco shop owners would no longer have the ability to let customers smoke on the premises, which violates their property rights.
We know that smoking bans hurt local businesses and economies and tells these small business owners that the government knows better how to run their businesses. We need your help.
Please e-mail or call the mayor and city council TODAY to tell them know we oppose any further action to restrict these private property owners' rights. The smoking ordinance briefing will happen at 1:15 p.m. on the sixth floor of City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street. The council plans to put the amendments to a vote at their Nov. 19 regular meeting.
CONTACT:
TOM LEPPERT, MAYOR
tom.leppert@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4054
DR. ELBA GARCIA, MAYOR PRO TEM -- Place 1
elba.garcia@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4052
DWAINE R. CARAWAY, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM -- Place 4
dwaine.caraway@dallascityhall.com
214/670-0781
PAULINE MEDRANO -- Place 2
pauline.medrano@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4048
DAVID A. NEUMANN -- Place 3
david.neumann@dallascityhall.com
214/670-0776
VONCIEL JONES HILL -- Place 5
vonciel.hill@dallascityhall.com
214/670-0777
STEVE SALAZAR -- Place 6
steven.salazar@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4199
CAROLYN R. DAVIS -- Place 7
carolyn.davis@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4689
TENNELL ATKINS -- Place 8
tennell.atkins@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4066
SHEFFIE KADANE -- Place 9
sheffield.kadane@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4069
JERRY R. ALLEN -- Place 10
jerry.allen@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4068
LINDA KOOP -- Place 11
214/670-7817
RON NATINSKY -- Place 12
ron.natinsky@dallascityhall.com
214/670-4067
mitchell.rasansky@dallascityhall.com
214/670-3816
ANGELA HUNT -- Place 14
angela.hunt@dallascityhall.com
214/670-5415
YRs Demand "Change"
While the political realm heats up and our presidential race ends tonight, two Young Republicans took it upon themselves to inject a little humor and get their political message across last night.
You might have seen Nathan Glass and Matthew Kidwell out on the corner 2222 and Shoak Creek in Austin last night; but probably didn't recognize them.
That's because they dressed up as homeless men carrying home-made, politically driven signs to inform others of the tax hike we'll be receiving if we allow an Obama administration.
From their reports, they surprisingly received positive responses from their audience.
Conservatives can be mighty creative.
Way to go Nathan & Matt!
From their reports, they surprisingly received positive responses from their audience.
Conservatives can be mighty creative.
Way to go Nathan & Matt!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Maldonado admonished by her pastor
Diane Maldonado is running for Texas House Seat 52. Much controversy has arisen over her out-of-district, even national funding from pro-abortion groups.
This email was sent to some HD 52 residents from a Moldonado fellow church member.
"A woman who is registered at our parish is running for State Representative on the Democrat ticket. She appears to be very misinformed about Church teaching on the primacy of defending innocent life and marriage, despite the best efforts of our pastor to meet with her. Because of her apparent failure to respond to his pastoral efforts to form her Church teaching, our pastor wrote the following letter to every family in the parish. Awesome!"
http://www.devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/2008/10/31/our-brave-pastor/
This email was sent to some HD 52 residents from a Moldonado fellow church member.
"A woman who is registered at our parish is running for State Representative on the Democrat ticket. She appears to be very misinformed about Church teaching on the primacy of defending innocent life and marriage, despite the best efforts of our pastor to meet with her. Because of her apparent failure to respond to his pastoral efforts to form her Church teaching, our pastor wrote the following letter to every family in the parish. Awesome!"
http://www.devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/2008/10/31/our-brave-pastor/
Friday, October 31, 2008
$2,000 investment could make firm $6 million!
It would make sense to prohibit individuals and firms from contributing to a tax increase initiative if they might benefit financially from it passing.
Here’s why: an architectural firm would readily make a $2,000 investment in promoting a bond package which could set them up to get a contract which would reap millions…if they get even 6% of a $100 million project, that’s $6 million!
Architectural firms regularly do get 6% of the cost of the building they design. No wonder so many new schools are taj mahal facilities. No wonder architectural firms aren’t supporting “smart” or “frugal” facilities plans.
For instance, when a school district proposes a multi-million dollar bond initiative to build new schools, it would result in taking more money from taxpayers, but putting money in some folks’ pockets. Since the
People watching the Round Rock ISD bond initiative campaign have kept an eye on who is contributing to the pro-bond campaign. Would it surprise anyone to know among the financial supporters are architects, attorneys and others who are working for the school district and could be beneficiaries of the bond passing?
Taxpayers don’t have that same leverage.
It has been called to our attention that:
1) Keith Hickman is getting an architect fee of 7.9% of the construction costs, over $5 million, for the new $67m+ high school under construction. Plus he's received many other smaller construction contracts under the 2006 bond.
2) McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore is the school's attorney.
3) Graber, Simmons & Cowan is getting a 12.06% architect fee of the $8m+ for the new Technology Data Center under construction.
(The following is from the GOUGED website: http://www.gouged.info/)
THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THE BOND PROPOSITION URGING YOU TO VOTE YES (and line their pockets in the process)
• Bartlett-Cocke (construction firm) - $2,500;
• Brown & Butler Construction Inc. (construction firm) - $2,000;
• K.A. Hickman Architects & Interior Designs (architectural firm) - $2,000;
• O’Connell Robertson (architectural-engineering firm) - $2,000;
• Graber, Simmons & Cowan (architectural firm) - $1,500;
• Alliance Geotechnical Group of Austin (engineering firm) - $1,000;
• Brath General Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• Bury & Partners Inc. Engineering Solutions (engineers) - $500;
• Jamail Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP (law firm) - $500;
• Chasco/Chaz Glace (construction firm) - $250;
• Heritage Title Company of Austin (title company) - $250;
• Round Rock Industrial Equipment - $250;
• Summit Commercial Industrial Properties (real estate) - $250;
• Robert Allen – of Cunningham-Allen, Inc. ( land-surveying and civil engineering firm,) Anchor Ventana (architectural glass supplier) - $200;
• Roy Beard – member, Zoning Board of Adjustment (real estate) - $100;
• Frost National Bank (banker) - $100;
• Catherine Hanna (lawyer) - $100;
• John Lewis – Real Estate Council of Austin (real estate) - $100;
• Pena Swayze & Co. LP (accounting firm) - $100;
• Plains Capital Bank (banker) - $100; William Romans - with First State Bank Central Texas (banker) - $100;
• Sheets & Crossfield P.C. (lawyer) - $100;
• Union State Bank (banker) - $100.
Let's level the playing field for taxpayers. Encourage your elected school board members to prohibit any contractor from contributing to pro-bond iniatiative campaigns. If a school facility is needed, we don't need contractors to "invest" in promoting them.
Here’s why: an architectural firm would readily make a $2,000 investment in promoting a bond package which could set them up to get a contract which would reap millions…if they get even 6% of a $100 million project, that’s $6 million!
Architectural firms regularly do get 6% of the cost of the building they design. No wonder so many new schools are taj mahal facilities. No wonder architectural firms aren’t supporting “smart” or “frugal” facilities plans.
For instance, when a school district proposes a multi-million dollar bond initiative to build new schools, it would result in taking more money from taxpayers, but putting money in some folks’ pockets. Since the
People watching the Round Rock ISD bond initiative campaign have kept an eye on who is contributing to the pro-bond campaign. Would it surprise anyone to know among the financial supporters are architects, attorneys and others who are working for the school district and could be beneficiaries of the bond passing?
Taxpayers don’t have that same leverage.
It has been called to our attention that:
1) Keith Hickman is getting an architect fee of 7.9% of the construction costs, over $5 million, for the new $67m+ high school under construction. Plus he's received many other smaller construction contracts under the 2006 bond.
2) McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore is the school's attorney.
3) Graber, Simmons & Cowan is getting a 12.06% architect fee of the $8m+ for the new Technology Data Center under construction.
(The following is from the GOUGED website: http://www.gouged.info/)
THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THE BOND PROPOSITION URGING YOU TO VOTE YES (and line their pockets in the process)
• Bartlett-Cocke (construction firm) - $2,500;
• Brown & Butler Construction Inc. (construction firm) - $2,000;
• K.A. Hickman Architects & Interior Designs (architectural firm) - $2,000;
• O’Connell Robertson (architectural-engineering firm) - $2,000;
• Graber, Simmons & Cowan (architectural firm) - $1,500;
• Alliance Geotechnical Group of Austin (engineering firm) - $1,000;
• Brath General Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• Bury & Partners Inc. Engineering Solutions (engineers) - $500;
• Jamail Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP (law firm) - $500;
• Chasco/Chaz Glace (construction firm) - $250;
• Heritage Title Company of Austin (title company) - $250;
• Round Rock Industrial Equipment - $250;
• Summit Commercial Industrial Properties (real estate) - $250;
• Robert Allen – of Cunningham-Allen, Inc. ( land-surveying and civil engineering firm,) Anchor Ventana (architectural glass supplier) - $200;
• Roy Beard – member, Zoning Board of Adjustment (real estate) - $100;
• Frost National Bank (banker) - $100;
• Catherine Hanna (lawyer) - $100;
• John Lewis – Real Estate Council of Austin (real estate) - $100;
• Pena Swayze & Co. LP (accounting firm) - $100;
• Plains Capital Bank (banker) - $100; William Romans - with First State Bank Central Texas (banker) - $100;
• Sheets & Crossfield P.C. (lawyer) - $100;
• Union State Bank (banker) - $100.
Let's level the playing field for taxpayers. Encourage your elected school board members to prohibit any contractor from contributing to pro-bond iniatiative campaigns. If a school facility is needed, we don't need contractors to "invest" in promoting them.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Taxpayer Rally at Stony Point HS TONIGHT
Unfortunately, hubby and I are double-booked tonight and can't make this rally, but if you can, you should.
GOUGED (Groups Opposed to Unsustainable Government Education Debt)
RRISD parents, property owners and taxpayers are rallying at the last pro-Bond "public hearing" event being help Oct. 28th at Stony Point High School.
Vote NO and other signs will be provided. The rally will last about an hour, from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. People are needed outside to carry signs and hand out pro-taxpayer flyers to the people arriving at the event.
Media is expected, and there will absolutely be defenders of the outrageous new debt and taxes at this event. A good showing by fiscal conservatives will go a LONG WAY towards motivating voters to defeat the Bonds, and save our taxpayers from further fiscal damage.
For background, see this New 8 Austin story on our Oct 22nd rally:
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=222668
FOR MORE INFO contact Danielle Kays (512)341-9661, Wilco Campaign for Liberty / GOUGED member
From Round Rock ISD website:
"At the recommendation of the 2008 Citizens Bond Committee that studied projected and current enrollment data, school capacity, and infrastructure needs, the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees called for a bond election to be held on Nov. 4, 2008, to ask voters to approve funding for capital improvement and facility projects totaling $293,940,000.
The district will be hosting Public Hearings at all four high schools to give residents a chance to learn about the bond projects and ask questions regarding the election. All public bond forums will be held at 7 p.m."
Vote NO and other signs will be provided. The rally will last about an hour, from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. People are needed outside to carry signs and hand out pro-taxpayer flyers to the people arriving at the event.
Media is expected, and there will absolutely be defenders of the outrageous new debt and taxes at this event. A good showing by fiscal conservatives will go a LONG WAY towards motivating voters to defeat the Bonds, and save our taxpayers from further fiscal damage.
For background, see this New 8 Austin story on our Oct 22nd rally:
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=222668
FOR MORE INFO contact Danielle Kays (512)341-9661, Wilco Campaign for Liberty / GOUGED member
From Round Rock ISD website:
"At the recommendation of the 2008 Citizens Bond Committee that studied projected and current enrollment data, school capacity, and infrastructure needs, the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees called for a bond election to be held on Nov. 4, 2008, to ask voters to approve funding for capital improvement and facility projects totaling $293,940,000.
The district will be hosting Public Hearings at all four high schools to give residents a chance to learn about the bond projects and ask questions regarding the election. All public bond forums will be held at 7 p.m."
Alvord Mother Proves We Can Keep ISDs Accountable
Just a reminder of how we can and should keep our school districts accountable:
Earlier this year, Alvord mother, Tracy Lodes had information that her school superintendent, John Trice, had potentially violated a number of laws, and in her trying to expose the infractions, she had been banned from her daughter’s elementary school campus.
Her local newspaper would not print any of the information she had, so we posted it on our blog - Voice of the Taxpayer - and got an astounding number of comments.
The allegation was electioneering on campus and we turned it over the AG and the Secretary of State’s office for investigation. Because of controversy over a number of issues, the superintendent resigned.
This is a video of her story:
Mom Takes Down Superintendent from Americans for Prosperity - TX on Vimeo.
Earlier this year, Alvord mother, Tracy Lodes had information that her school superintendent, John Trice, had potentially violated a number of laws, and in her trying to expose the infractions, she had been banned from her daughter’s elementary school campus.
Her local newspaper would not print any of the information she had, so we posted it on our blog - Voice of the Taxpayer - and got an astounding number of comments.
The allegation was electioneering on campus and we turned it over the AG and the Secretary of State’s office for investigation. Because of controversy over a number of issues, the superintendent resigned.
This is a video of her story:
Mom Takes Down Superintendent from Americans for Prosperity - TX on Vimeo.
Comptroller Combs touts Texas economy at event honoring Austin-area women
I had the great honor of being recognized among the “Texas Women Movers and Shakers” in Travis County last week.
I was humbled to be among some outstanding women who were recognized at a luncheon hosted by Rosemary Edwards and co-chaired by Katherine Armstrong and Polly Sowell.
Those recognized were Tina Benkiser, Deirdre Delisi, The Hon. Melissa Goodwin, Donna Keel, Teresa Spears, Pam Waggoner and Kathleen Hartnett White...and me.
Texas women are involved in every aspect of public policy and politics in Austin and around the state (and the nation).
Texas First Lady Anita Perry spoke as did Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.
Comptroller Combs provided some uplifting news about the Texas economy which reflects the policy decisions made in Austin.
Texas continues to fare better economically than most other states. With our mix of industries and avoidance of the housing price bubble, Texas should have more resistance to – but not immunity from – recessionary conditions.
• In fiscal 2008, Texas’ gross state product grew by 4.1 percent, versus 1.5 percent for the national economy.
• In the 12 months ending in September 2008, Texas gained almost 248,000 jobs, more than the next 14 top job-growth states combined.
• Over last 12 months, Texas accounts for 54 percent of entire job gains for all states.
• In the past five years, Texas added 1.3 million new jobs to our economy.
• Texas sales tax receipts for September 2008 increased 3.7 percent from the same month the year before.
• Consumer confidence across the nation is weak, as reflected in the lowest consumer confidence index numbers since 1992. Texas’ numbers remain fairly strong, however. In September, the U.S. index stood at 59.8 (with 1985 = 100). The Rust Belt region was 45. Texas’ regional index was 88.5 — the highest of any region in the nation.
Fiscal 2008 was strong for Texas, and although the Texas economy is still expanding, its rate of expansion is slowing. But Texas’ economy is in good shape relative to other states and the rest of the country.
It's thanks to Texas leaders, the women and the women behind the policies that Texas is doing so well relative to other states and the nation.
For more information, go to: http://www.texasahead.org/economy/outlook.html or www.GoodNewsInTexas.com.
-- Peggy Venable
I was humbled to be among some outstanding women who were recognized at a luncheon hosted by Rosemary Edwards and co-chaired by Katherine Armstrong and Polly Sowell.
Those recognized were Tina Benkiser, Deirdre Delisi, The Hon. Melissa Goodwin, Donna Keel, Teresa Spears, Pam Waggoner and Kathleen Hartnett White...and me.
Texas women are involved in every aspect of public policy and politics in Austin and around the state (and the nation).
Texas First Lady Anita Perry spoke as did Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.
Comptroller Combs provided some uplifting news about the Texas economy which reflects the policy decisions made in Austin.
Texas continues to fare better economically than most other states. With our mix of industries and avoidance of the housing price bubble, Texas should have more resistance to – but not immunity from – recessionary conditions.
• In fiscal 2008, Texas’ gross state product grew by 4.1 percent, versus 1.5 percent for the national economy.
• In the 12 months ending in September 2008, Texas gained almost 248,000 jobs, more than the next 14 top job-growth states combined.
• Over last 12 months, Texas accounts for 54 percent of entire job gains for all states.
• In the past five years, Texas added 1.3 million new jobs to our economy.
• Texas sales tax receipts for September 2008 increased 3.7 percent from the same month the year before.
• Consumer confidence across the nation is weak, as reflected in the lowest consumer confidence index numbers since 1992. Texas’ numbers remain fairly strong, however. In September, the U.S. index stood at 59.8 (with 1985 = 100). The Rust Belt region was 45. Texas’ regional index was 88.5 — the highest of any region in the nation.
Fiscal 2008 was strong for Texas, and although the Texas economy is still expanding, its rate of expansion is slowing. But Texas’ economy is in good shape relative to other states and the rest of the country.
It's thanks to Texas leaders, the women and the women behind the policies that Texas is doing so well relative to other states and the nation.
For more information, go to: http://www.texasahead.org/economy/outlook.html or www.GoodNewsInTexas.com.
-- Peggy Venable
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)