Conservative principles will continue to guide us over the next 138 days
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Two years ago I spoke to you all under wildly different circumstances with a revenue estimate in hand that was causing total panic in certain circles said Gov. Rick Perry Thursday starting his keynote speech at the Texas Public Policy Foundations 11th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature. Note: Gov. Perry frequently deviates from prepared text.
The work done by TPPF is extremely important to our states ongoing and future success and you have my appreciation for that.
The job we had to do two years ago was to calm everyone down assure them the sky was not in fact falling and that the best thing we could do for everybody was figure out how to live within our means and go from there.
Thats exactly what we did we sat down and budgeted just like any family or business owner prioritized our wants and needs and tightened our belts a notch or two.
As a result we enter this biennium with a thriving economy a healthy revenue estimate and an opportunity to set our fiscal house in order and rededicate our state to the same conservative fiscal policies that have served us so well over the past decade.
In fact the job we have now may be even more difficult than two years ago.
Our job now is to remind people that this good news does not mean well be free to spend any amount on anything we want.
We have to make sure everyone understands that if we stray from the path weve crafted for ourselves other states like Florida and Louisiana are eager to step up and take their shot at the nations job-creation crown.
When I spoke to the legislature on Tuesday I made it clear that we have to continue keeping our spending under control.
I also told them that the best thing we can do for our economy for employers employees and our state is to provide some tax relief.
The last two years tell us that people do the most good when they keep more of their own money so they can start new businesses invest in new equipment hire new employees and blaze new trails.
Time and again weve seen that the best use of the peoples money is to give it back to them in some form or fashion.
I think thats an important discussion to have.
In fact Id like to advance the discussion beyond the Dome and I invite everyone to go to my website gov.Texas.gov and share with us your own thoughts on whats the best way to provide tax relief to Texas.
Now this being the Internet some of the ideas will be better than others but this represents a chance to hear some fresh ideas and jumpstart a very important conversation on taxes.
Of course tax relief isnt the only thing we need to address this session.
We need to discuss and find ways to improve our states infrastructure in water energy and transportation.
Texans are an innovative bunch and Im sure we can figure out ways to ensure our needs in these critical areas are met for now and stretching into the future.
Well also need to figure out the best ways to educate our workforce to reassure employers that they will continue to be able to find the best people for the job right here in the Lone Star State.
Whether that means passing some higher education reforms to place a greater emphasis on affordability and graduation rate or streamlining and accelerating the process for people to earn technical certifications.
Combined with infrastructure improvements these steps are vital if Texas is going to continue to be the nations epicenter for job creation in the years to come.
And again we can have the best workforce the best infrastructure but if the economic climate is restrictive to the point that businesses feel they cant succeed here it just wont matter.
You all here know just how successful weve been at fostering the kind of climate that attracts businesses seeking to expand or relocate.
For the last several months Ive been promoting a series of ideas I call the Texas Budget Compact a collection of common-sense steps our legislature should take to ensure we continue adhering to the bedrock principles that have gotten us where we are today.
If you havent heard them yet they are practice truth-in-budgeting support a stricter constitutional limit on spending make the small business tax exemption permanent preserve our strong Rainy Day Fund and cut wasteful and redundant government programs and agencies.
The compact has been designed to keep government honest as small as possible and as efficient as it can be in providing essential services like educating our children and caring for those who truly need the help.
By sticking to that formula we can build an even stronger economy and help create more and better jobs.
Ive also called for the legislature to reform our laws to make it harder for people to abuse our public assistance and unemployment insurance systems by authorizing drug screenings for those programs.
And of course we also need to better protect our most vulnerable citizens the unborn by expanding the ban on abortion to any baby that can feel the pain of the procedure and putting in place common-sense oversights on clinics and physicians involved.
With your support and continued input our conservative principles will continue to guide us over the course of the next 138 days and set our states direction for years to come.
Given what weve accomplished so far Im very encouraged at our prospects for success.
May God bless you and through you may He continue to bless the great state of Texas.
