Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas (NEW ORLEANS) Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) announced the unanimous passage of the Occupational Licensing Consumer Choice Act proposed model legislation to reduce the burden of occupational licensing by the Commerce Insurance and Economic Development Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) annual meeting on August 10.
Its difficult enough to find a good-paying job without having to pay the government for the privilege to work" said Rep. Isaac. Im excited that this model legislation will be available to legislators nationwide and start a conversation about reducing this unnecessary burden on the people we serve."
ALEC is a nonpartisan coalition of state legislators that provides resources including model legislation which can be a starting point for state legislators to craft bills tailored to individual states that advance the principles of limited government free markets and federalism.
Nearly a quarter of working Texans have to ask permission and pay the government for a piece of paper in order to do their jobs" said Russell Withers General Counsel of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute who developed the model legislation. If I want to trust an unlicensed barber with 5000 positive Yelp reviews over a licensed barber with far fewer then that should be my choice as a consumer. Consumers are smart and they should be empowered to make those decisions for themselves."
Our nation has historically been a beacon of opportunity because of our commitment to economic freedom" said Lee McGrath of the Institute for Justice the nations leading advocate for licensing reform nationwide and in Texas. Providing this resource to help state legislatures find alternatives to costly burdensome and anti-competitive occupational licenses will make Texas entrepreneurs freer and the State of Texas even more competitive."
To extend its gains Texass next big task is to cut workers free from the states biggest regulatory knot of red tape" added Arif Panju of the Institute for Justices Austin office. The Occupational Licensing Consumer Choice Act is a very important way to achieve Texas next step toward greater economic liberty."
Rep. Isaac is a fourth-generation native Texan who has represented Hays and Blanco counties in the Texas Legislature since 2011. He sits on the Energy Resources and Urban Affairs committees and is President of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute. He lives in Drippings Springs with his wife Carrie and two sons.
