AUSTINThe Texas Conservative Coalition (TCC) held a press conference this morning to announce their Jobs for Texans" plan to grow the Texas economy and create jobs.
Over the last year 80 percent of the jobs created in America were in Texas. Texas remains more economically stable than the rest of the nation but the rate of joblessness has grown a full two percentage points higher than this time last year leaving room for improvement.
It is imperative that the Texas Legislature take a direct and responsible approach to job growth said State Representative Linda Harper-Brown (R-Irving) We must focus our efforts on tax reform job retention and workforce development programs that have proven to work."
The Jobs for Texans" policy plan issued by TCC does just that. The plan takes three approaches to helping workers and businesses:
-reducing the tax burden on businesses
-retaining jobs in Texas through targeted incentives
-investing in workforce development
TCC claims that reducing and reforming the margins tax must be a top priority of for the Legislature. TCC suggests cutting the rates of margins tax to limit tax liability which encourages short-term and long-term economic growth lowering the easy-file rate to provide additional tax relief and reduce compliance costs raise the small business exemption since nearly half of Texas employees work at companies with less than 500 workers and allowing deductions for compensation paid to contractors.
The current franchise tax couldnt have hit at a worse time" said State Representative David Swinford (R) who emphasized that tax relief was the best way to relieve the burden on Texas businesses.
By significantly lowering the franchise tax we can allow businesses to make the investments and take the risks that will create jobs for Texans."
State Representative Phil King (R) added So far Texas has weathered the current economic crisis relatively well thanks to sound tax policies and targeted job growth programs put in place over the last six years.
But we refuse to remain idle. Our Jobs for Texans economic recovery plan is to limit taxes and make targeted investments in proven job training programs that give unemployed Texans the support they need to get back to work."
