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Reviving Texas' Job Growth

Getting our economy back on track requires economic recovery for ordinary Texas families, not just Wall Street. As Texas' Governor I will work on long-term solutions to make our state more competitive in a global economy.

• +   Attracting jobs with a future.

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  As a former businessman, I know what it takes to meet a payroll and make hard choices. In this economy, it's vital that the Governor attract new businesses to the state, allow small businesses to grow, and ensure a skilled workforce through education and job training. In my time as Houston's mayor, I helped the region add more new jobs than thirty-seven states combined, and as Governor I will work to build on that success.
  
  




• +   Educating and training our workforce.

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  A distinguished Texas Commission on Higher Education and Global Competitiveness, appointed by Gov. Perry among others, reported (PDF) that: "Texas is not globally competitive. The state faces a downward spiral in both quality of life and economic competitiveness if it fails to educate more of its growing population (both youth and adults) to higher levels of attainment, knowledge and skills." My plan to improve education is critical for the future of our economy.
  
  




• +   Stopping the squeeze on savings created by insurance rates.

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  Texans have the highest rates of homeowners' insurance in the nation. In Texas, the Governor appoints an Insurance Commissioner responsible for guarding homeowner's, auto, and health insurance rates. I will choose appointees who will serve the people of Texas, who will attract a competitive group of firms offering more competitive rates.
  
  




• +   Investing in critical transportation and other infrastructure.

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  Transportation and other infrastructure, such as wastewater treatment facilities, are critical to helping businesses grow and attracting new businesses. I will work to facilitate regional transportation solutions that promote economic development and respect private property.

  • The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) should end plans for the ill-conceived Trans-Texas Corridor, which would have been run for private interests and would not have helped Texans go from where they live to where they work.
  
  
  • TxDOT should be decentralized, with less funding for overhead and more allocated directly to individual districts, who could work with counties, cities, and regional planning organizations to set local priorities. Local governments should be allowed to use funds for traffic management, mass transit, and other programs to speed traffic along within existing rights-of-ways.
  
  
  • The state of Texas should develop plans with counties to provide funding sources for water and sewer infrastructure in unincorporated areas.

  
  
  




• +   Using tax dollars for incentives more wisely.

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  Texas' next Governor should use our tax dollars for economic incentives more wisely. In the past, the Governor has given tens of millions in tax dollars to firms like Countrywide Financial, the failed subprime lender, based on promises to expand jobs in the future, and has not received the dollars back when the firms fail to perform.