There is good news in Texas!
"Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, and our Texas legislative leaders, Texas is better positioned economically than any other large state in our country to handle these difficult economic times. When many states raised taxes and went on spending sprees during the boom times, Gov. Perry and the Texas Legislature resisted the temptation to tax and spend as if there were no tomorrow. As a result, Texas has a substantial budget surplus while California is facing a $40 billion budget deficit." -- Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken

Texas is No. 1

Texas is one of a handful of states which are not facing a large budget deficit. Texans have been prudent in spending, and our economy has grown. Jobs have been created, and businesses are flocking to Texas!

Here are the top 10 ways Texas is No. 1:

• Transparency
• Lawsuit Reform
• Largest Electricity Market
• Balanced State Budget
• No State Income Tax
• Top Exporting State
• Top State for Business
• Most Fortune 500 Companies
• Most Job Creation
• Fastest-Growing State in the Country

Here's a look at how we can maintain Good News in Texas and what others across the state are doing to make it possible!

Good News in Texas - updated

February 17, 2010
Another Texas First – this time in Williamson County
The County Health Rankings—the first set of reports to rank the overall health of every county in all 50 states—were released today by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at a briefing in Washington, D.C. Williamson County ranked first among Texas Counties in the health outcomes category (how healthy people are and how long they live) and fifth overall in health factors (how healthy they can be) with regards to key factors that affect health such as smoking, obesity, binge drinking, access to primary care providers, rates of high school graduation, rates of violent crime, air pollution levels, access to healthy foods, unemployment rates and number of children living in poverty.

Read about it here.

February 3, 2010
Texas' curriculum program earns "A"
Education Week released its Quality Counts annual report mid-January putting Texas on top.

The report confirms that Texas does a superior job in crafting its own curriculum standards, which were created with input from thousands of Texans.

You might recall that Texas, along with Alaska, has refused to join an effort this year to create national standards.

Read about it here.

January 25, 2010
Texas Has Largest 10-Year Growth in Private Sector Jobs Among All States

AUSTIN – Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken today released figures showing that 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. Pauken cited the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics January 22, 2010 release of Current Employment Statistics for December 2009 showing Texas created 724,300 more net private sector jobs as compared to December 1999, the largest private sector job gain nationwide over the last decade.

Read about it here.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram - January 18, 2010
ECONOMIST SAYS TEXAS WILL BE 1ST STATE TO RECOVER
Texas will be "last in, first out" among states battling the recession, although a recovery that has already started will require patience, a leading economist says. The Lone Star State proved resilient because of advantages such as weather, stable home prices and a political climate favorable for companies seeking new places to do business, said Ray Perryman, head of the Perryman Group and a longtime Texas economist. Still, Perryman said Texas has seen its share of difficulty since the state got caught up in the national economic downturn in the summer of 2008. Job losses mounted last year, and the outlook remains bleak for commercial real estate.

http://www.star-telegram.com/texas/story/1900487.html

January 13, 2010

Texas is #1 AGAIN…

Texas may be well known for its tasty barbeque, rowdy cowboys and friendly nature, but it also boasts a solid employment base, low tax rates and some of the nation’s most affordable housing. And in these challenging economic times, those qualities can look particularly attractive to families and businesses looking to move to a place where they can plant some roots. So it’s no surprise that more people chose to relocate to Texas in 2008 than any other state, according to Allied Van Lines’ 41st Annual Magnet States Report released this month.

This is the third year in a row that Texas has topped the list for relocation in the US. And it’s no wonder. Texas leaders have worked hard to keep Texas citizen-centered, and to make sure that we keep more of our hard-earned money in our pockets.

It’s thanks to folks like AFP members who support policies which keep state government from taxing, spending and regulating us too much.

Washington, D.C., and the rest of the states would do well to follow Texas’ strong lead.

Read about it here: http://www.allied.com/news.nr-allied-magnet-states-2009-1-13-09.aspx

December 8, 2009
Texas has been named #1 in residential electricity competition for the third year in a row - AND we have more wind generation than any other state (some would say we have a lot of hot air)...but this has been accomplished without onerous regulations and mandates. We have structured the electricity marketplace for competition to work, and it has. Four out of 5 Texans have selected their own electricity provider, and prices have gone down.

AUSTIN – A study released Monday reveals that for the third year in a row, Texas has been rated No. 1 in residential electricity competition and No. 1 for the second year in a row in commercial energy competition.

“Lone Star State consumers have benefited from a competitive electricity marketplace,” said Peggy Venable, state director of Americans for Prosperity, “We have good news in Texas, and it is not result of a top-down regulatory regime, but of allowing the free market to work. Consumers like choices and have taken advantage of those opportunities in selecting their electricity providers.”

Texas leads the nation in wind turbine capacity and wind energy production. States which have vibrant energy markets have experienced rapid growth in renewable generation.

To read more, please click here.

December 2, 2009
Jobs aren’t created at job summits:Look to Texas for Answers
Commentary by Peggy Venable,Texas Director, Americans for Prosperity Foundation

The Obama Administration should look to Texas for ways to create jobs. While jobs aren’t created at job summits, businesses large and small look for certainty in taxation and regulation.

Instead, the Obama Administration and Congress are considering two of the biggest tax bills in history in the health care reform and the cap and trade legislation. And federal government debt has hit $12 trillion.

While Texas has created more jobs than any other state in the country, and touts creating more jobs last year than all other states combined, and has a rainy day fund of over $8 billion, officials in the Obama Administration will be convening a jobs summit.

To read more, please click here.

October 30, 2009
Texas is on top: thanks to leadership

America's Future: California vs. Texas is a head-to-head, state battle we are winning and winning big. In an article, published in the October 2009 issue of Trends Magazine, Texas gets many kudos. It’s not without good leadership that we are in the enviable position of the top state in the country to do business, the top exporting state, the number one state for business relocation, and the fastest-growing state.

It doesn’t happen by accident. While we fiscal conservatives often get frustrated trying to get fiscally responsible legislation passed, we need to pat ourselves on the back – Texas isn’t California and we are in much better shape than the country is in. We need to take a minute and thank our leadership for their good work.

To read more, please click here.

October 6, 2009
Texas Report to the Defending the American Dream Summit
Presented by Peggy Venable, Texas Director, AFP

Howdy from the great state of Texas, not TaxUs. The Lone Star State is home of Captain Watchdog and over 30,000 AFP members who are ready to Take Back America.

Everything is bigger in Texas…everything except government, that is.

Thanks to AFP members’ support for free market policies and limited government, Texas is the only large state with no budget deficit – we have $9 billion in our rainy day fund.

Texas created more jobs than any other state last year – 70% of the jobs created in the U.S. last year were in the Lone Star State.

But we can brag about more than that:

Texas enacted tort reform and Texas hospitals expanded charity care by 25%, we have better access to high-quality healthcare and almost a half million more people have health insurance. (No need for pilot projects, President Obama.)

Texas is also the No. 1 exporting state,
• the top state for businesses to relocate,
• has the most Fortune 500 Companies,
• has been rating No. 1 for transparency,
• has the most vibrant electricity market in the country, and
• is growing father than any other state – at a rate of over 1,000 people a day.

Congress and the President could learn a lot from Texas. We’ve given President Obama Governor Perry’s phone number, and the Governor is ready to take his call and provide him advice.

Obama and Congress can learn a lot from Texas.
• Balance the budget,
• respect consumer choice,
• read the constitution,
• and enact tort reform.
The bottom line is this: government shouldn’t even try to do well what it should not be doing,

We in Texas are committed to Defend the American Dream and to Take Back America.

September 10, 2009
Earth to Obama: Texas enacted tort reform

In his Presidential address last night, Obama said he had talked to some doctors and learned that medical procedures were being done which may not be necessary, due to fear of medical malpractice lawsuits.

In townhall meetings across the country, Congress has been hearing from citizens that tort reform needs to be part of any health care reform Congress considers.

Obama didn’t mention that medical malpractice insurance rates are high, and those costs are either passed on to patients or doctors limit their practice. In Texas, many doctors were refusing to deliver babies for fear of lawsuits. Last night, Obama entertained the idea of tort reform, saying we could try it in some states with pilot projects.

Click here for the rest of the story


Texas is in the black! Texas is one of only 6 states with no budget shortfall (those states are TX, AK, MT, WY, ND, W VA). California’s budget shortfall is over $13 billion, and 13% of their general fund budget.

And the Texas Legislature passed a budget that grows no more than the combined increase in population and inflation estimate.

Texas unemployment rate is 6.7% while the national unemployment rate is 8/9% in April. (The Employment Situation for May 2009 is scheduled to be released on June 5, 2009, and will be available at: http://www.bls.gov/cps/) The Texas unemployment rate has consistently remained well below the national rate. Why? Could it be that Texas’ state budget is in the black, Texas was named State of the Year by Business Facilities Magazine, Texas Ranks #1 relocation destination in the U.S., Texas ranked in wind capacity, and Texas has more Fortune 500 companies than any other state in the country.

And the 2009 Texas legislative session provided more good news for Texans: http://americansforprosperity.org/060209-afp-texas-highlights-81st-legis...

Texans for Lawsuit Reform Luncheon with Attorney General Abbot - March 9, 2009

At a Texans for Lawsuit Reform luncheon in Austin, in a most informative and entertaining speech, Atty Gen. Greg Abbott talked about the success of lawsuit reform in Texas. More doctors are practicing medicine, and fewer frivolous lawsuits. Of note, the omnibus tort reform bill HB 4 sponsored by former Rep. Joe Nixon, has been very successful. Most Texans don't know that the class action lawsuits which result in hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs getting nothing more than a coupon also provides justice to the ambulance-chasing lawyers who file those suits. If filed in Texas, instead of getting six-figure attorney fees when citizens get coupons, the lawyers who file those bills get paid like the plaintiffs they abuse do -- in coupons. Gotta love Texas!

Texas Ranked #1 in Consumer Choice in Electricity

A newly released study reveals that Texas is the top state in the U.S. in competitive electricity. And that competition has benefited consumers. We at AFP know that consumers win when they are given choices in the marketplace. The study confirms the benefits of consumer choice.

Electricity competition has given Texans the freedom of choice in providers, services and pricing of electricity among numerous power producers and retailers.

While much of the electricity in Texas is generated by natural gas, and those prices have been volatile, Texans have been insulated from some of the price surges other states have seen, largely due to the competitive marketplace.

Some of the recent criticism of competitive markets is also addressed in the report. Critics claim that "rates are increasing in competitive markets" when rate fluctuations are really the result of fuel price increases that can be exacerbated by regulatory or legislative decisions to artificially depress prices below market costs.

AFP also supports opening the municipal electricity and co-ops to competition. These are currently monopolies and residents served by munis and co-ops are held captive to those providers and have no electricity provider options.

The study can be accessed at: http://www.defgllc.com/news/news.asp?show=VIEW&a=66

AFP Press Statement: Governors Just Say “No!” To State Bailouts
For Immediate Release: December 3, 2008
Contact: Cindy Mallette, (512) 476-5905

AUSTIN─ In a political culture that rewards fiscal irresponsibility, Americans for Prosperity-Texas praises Texas Gov.Rick Perry and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford for standing for taxpayers and opposing federal bailouts for state governments.

TO READ FULL STATEMENT - CLICK HERE.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
POLL: Texans believe electric competition means better prices, cleaner power
By MARIANNE CARROLL
December 3, 2008

Customer choice and competition are important foundations of the U.S. economic system, especially in Texas. Choice and competition typically can drive prices lower, push quality higher and give consumers greater leverage with corporations and businesses, from Wal-Mart to the mom-and-pop dry cleaner.

Today, Texas families are able to shop around for products and services historically limited by monopolies or government agencies, such as telephone and electricity services. Some have criticized moving these vital services into competition as "privatization" or "deregulation," but public opinion research shows that Texans support the power to choose.

A recent public opinion poll found that by a 78 percent to 14 percent margin, Texans support the state’s competitive electric market.

TO READ THE FULL STORY - CLICK HERE.

Tyler Morning Telegraph
Let Markets Decide Future of Energy Cost
November 24, 2008

A new push is on to reregulate Texas' electricity markets, complete with studies, committee hearings and proposed legislation.

"Since Texas deregulated its retail electric markets in 1999, Texans have suffered some of the steepest price increases in the nation. Instead of paying rates below the national average -- as was the case for years -- Texans now pay above average rates," claims a new study by an interest group called Cities Aggregation Power Project (CAPP). "Consumers are hurting. Lawmakers should take a long, hard look at these findings and consider how best to provide relief for their constituents."

TO READ THE FULL STORY - CLICK HERE.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times
TXU customers to get break on future bills
November 23, 2008

More than 300,000 TXU Energy customers will see lower electricity prices as early as December thanks to falling natural gas prices. The new prices took effect Nov. 17.

Reductions of as much as 10 percent will be given on several month-to-month residential plans -- PowerStar, Texas Choice and Freedom Plan. A typical single-family household could save as much as $300 a year, officials said.

Comptroller’s Economic Outlook: More Good News in Texas

As of October 22, 2008, the Texas Comptroller Susan Comb’s office had good news for Texans. 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. Fiscal 2008 was strong for Texas, and although the Texas economy is still expanding, its rate of expansion is slowing. Jobs

• 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.

For more information, go to: http://www.texasahead.org/economy/outlook.html

It’s the economy, stupid – And Texas has been relatively smart about it

The economy is the #1 issue in the country today. Texas’ economy has been strong and for years has been identified as one of the fastest growing economies in the country.
According to the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, Texas' economy continues to gain jobs while the nation's economy is losing them. (http://recenter.tamu.edu/econ/)

Texas’ largest population concentration is also doing relatively well. The first quarter of this year, the Texas economy enjoyed job growth of about 2.2 percent, or a pace of about 55,000 new jobs in 2008. New jobs have been dominated by well-paid professional categories such as energy, health care and engineering. (http://www.dallasfed.org/research/update-hou/index.cfm)

Rule of Law Rules in Texas

Last year, AFP-Texas launched a campaign “Keep Texas Competitive: Prosperity in the Lone Star State.”

We have traveled over 9,000 miles this year alone, sharing our message and educating citizens. Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a related educational organization, held a state-wide conference in July entitled, “Defending the American Dream,” and coupled that with a blogger-focused new media element “Right Online.” AFP-TX was a co-sponsor. The Summit attracted 500 activists from every corner of the state.

We strive to educate citizens on what drives prosperity, which includes support for the rule of law and judicial restraint. A government that exhibits respect for the rule of law acts in a predictable way. We also espouse limited government, private property rights and individual freedom which encourages investment, trade and wealth creation.

More Texas Economic News

In the recent study titled “The Texas Turnaround,” The Perryman Group (Ray Perryman - TPG) measured the incremental gains from tort reform and found that the total impact of tort reforms implemented since 1995 includes gains of $112.5 billion in spending each year as well as almost 499,900 jobs in the state. The fiscal stimulus to the State from judicial reforms is almost $2.6 billion per year increase in state revenue.
(http://www.tlrfoundation.com/?q=perryman-group-report).

Texas reforms limited non-economic damages in medical malpractice litigation, which alone lead to gains of $55.3 billion in spending per year and more than 223,000 jobs. In addition, these impacts are responsible for approximately 430,000 individuals having health insurance than would otherwise, and there has been an increase in the number of doctors, particularly in regions which have been facing severe shortages. In the Houston-Sugarland-Baytown area, the impact of tort reform has been astounding. Since 1995:

• Over $39 billion added to the economy
• 152,905 jobs added

(This area of the state experienced the most economic gain)

Inheritance Rights

AFP-Texas recently held a joint even with the Federalist Society, Austin Lawyers Chapter, featuring writer and commentator Horace Cooper who discussed the need to re-establish the importance of the right to inherit and where the right to dispose of one’s personal property as one wishes are fundamental in our free enterprise system.

Read more about inheritance rights: http://www.estateofdenial.com/2008/10/20/moving-in-the-right-direction/

AFP Supports Consumer Choice in Electricity

A deregulated market empowers consumers to choose how much they are willing to pay for electricity while providing an atmosphere for competition and innovation in electricity delivery.

A recent article in the Abilene Reporter-News confirmed what AFP has known all along: electricity deregulation works!

Here's a clip from the article:

“Electric rates available to West Texans are less expensive, on average, than they were two years ago.

“In addition, residential rates offered in Abilene and San Angelo are among the lowest in the deregulated parts of Texas – in contrast to two years ago when West Central Texans were paying some of the highest rates in the state.”

The article cites three reasons for falling prices:
•Increased wind energy production
•Competition between electric providers
•The lack of an advanced meter program, for which customers in other parts of the state pay a surcharge

Read the entire article here.

Government just thinks it knows a commodity’s right price. In fact, only the marketplace knows, through the experience of buyers’ collective choices. Charge too much and buyers flee. Charge too little and demand explodes, and companies quickly realize they are leaving profits on the table. When the market sets the price, supply meets demand.

Washington Post
Peggy Venable: Tort Reform? We've Already Done It

In his address last week, President Obama said he had talked to some doctors and learned that medical procedures were being done that may not be necessary due to fear of medical malpractice lawsuits, and he entertained the idea of tort reform, saying we could try it in some states with pilot projects.

But there's no need for a pilot project. Texas enacted malpractice reform years ago. The president would benefit from a phone call to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R).

Texas passed significant tort reform in 1995, and more reforms have been enacted since then. A 2008 study from the Perryman Group found that perhaps the most visible economic impact of the lawsuit reforms are the benefits experienced by Texans who have better access to high-quality healthcare. Doctors and hospitals are using their liability insurance savings to expand services and initiate innovative programs; those savings have allowed Texas hospitals to expand charity care by 24 percent.

The total impact of tort reforms implemented since 1995 includes gains of $112.5 billion in spending each year as well as almost 499,900 jobs in the state. The fiscal stimulus to the state from judicial reforms is almost a $2.6 billion per year increase in state revenue. In addition, these reforms are responsible for approximately 430,000 individuals having health insurance than would otherwise, and there has been an increase in the number of doctors, particularly in regions which have been facing severe shortages.

But there is more. Those the class-action lawsuits that result in hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs getting nothing more than a coupon also provides justice to the ambulance-chasing lawyers who file those suits. If filed in Texas, instead of getting six-figure attorney fees when citizens get coupons, the lawyers who file those bills get paid like the plaintiffs they abuse do -- in coupons.

Click here to read the story at WashingtonPost.com.